I was reading a book about shipwrecks off New Jersey and the author mentioned that one of the ships was under the control of the United States Railway Administration. I wasn't aware that the USRA controlled any ships.

A web search ("united states railroad administration" ships) didn't find anything about USRA ships, but it did find this link: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM73ND_WIDEST_Sea_Level_Canal_in_the_World__Cape_Cod_Canal which says that the Cape Cod Ship Canal came under the control of the USRA.

So besides running the railroads, what else did the USRA do? How was that justified? Did these other operations need to integrate with railroad operations?

Is there a good history book about the USRA?

-Mark

http://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Sams-Locomo ... 253340861/

Indiana U. Press 2002.