Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners records
Published: 1907
Language: eng
Subjects: Irrigation; Montana Trade Commission; Public utilities; Railroads; Montana Public Service Commission; Montana Irrigation Commission
Description: These records consist of annual reports of the Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners from 1907-1971.

These records consist of annual reports of the Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners from 1907-1971.

The title of the report varied over the years.  It was "Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners of the State of Montana" from 1907/1908-1918/1919; it was "Report of Cases and Proceedings before the Board of Railroad Commissioners of the State of Montana" from 1920-1968. The title returned to "Annual report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners" from 1970-1971.

From volume 1-17 the reports were in published hard-bound format; thereafter they were mimeographed typescript in binders.  Beginning in 1913 the Board was ex officio the Public Service Commission; from 1919 to 1928 the Board was also ex officio the Montana Trade Commission and the Montana Irrigation Commission. The reports reflect these various roles and summarize cases heard before the Commissioners.
Notes: Transferred by Montana Public Service Commission, 1975-1994.

The Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was established by the Montana legislature in 1907. The board, consisting of three members elected statewide, was given the authority to set rates and establish regulations governing freight and passenger transportation within the state.

In 1913 the Board of Railroad Commissioners was made ex officio the newly created Montana Public Service Commission. In 1919 the Board also was made ex officio the Montana Trade Commission and the Montana Irrigation Commission. In 1971 the Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was abolished and its work was taken over directly by the Public Service Commission.