<P> Industrialists such as Cornelius Vanderbilt and Jay Gould became wealthy through railroad ownerships, as large railroad companies such as the New York Central, Grand Trunk Railway and the Southern Pacific spanned several states . In response to monopolistic practices (such as price fixing) and other excesses of some railroads and their owners, Congress created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in 1887 . The ICC indirectly controlled the business activities of the railroads through issuance of extensive regulations . Congress also enacted antitrust legislation to prevent railroad monopolies, beginning with the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> (hide) This section has multiple issues . Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section does not cite any sources . Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (December 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (December 2015) </Td> </Tr> </Table> (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> (hide) This section has multiple issues . Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section does not cite any sources . Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (December 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (December 2015) </Td> </Tr> </Table> (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section does not cite any sources . Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (December 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who owns the railroads in the united states