Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Annual Reports, 1905-1918

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission's parent agency, the Railroad Commission of the State of Washington, was established in 1905 by the State Legislature to supervise and regulate the state's railways. Later, its powers were extended to include supervision and regulation of various types of public services, becoming the Public Service Commission of the State of Washington in 1911. During the first World War, the federal government took over the operation of most of the nation's railroads, under the United States Railway Administration (USRA). All of the USRA operated carriers reported to the Interstate Commerce Commission, which supplied copies of these reports to the state regulatory agencies. The 1918 annual reports are copies of reports made to the ICC. For further information regarding the provenance of these records, please consult the "General Guide to the State Archives," and "Westward "Expansion" by Ray Allen Billington, pp. 560-561.