A Look Back: The Congressional Serial Set and the Claim of the Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Washington Railway Co.
On September 12, 2025, at precisely 5:13 PM Eastern Time, govinfo.gov, the official online repository of U.S. government publications, made available a significant historical document: S. Rept. 78-175 – Claim of Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Washington Railway Co. This report, dated April 9, 1943 (with its legislative day noted as April 6, 1943), details a claim brought forth by the Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Washington Railway Company to the U.S. Congress.
The inclusion of this document within the Congressional Serial Set is of considerable interest to those studying American history, legislative processes, and the evolution of infrastructure and transportation in the early to mid-20th century. The Congressional Serial Set itself is a collection of numbered House and Senate reports and documents, bound and published as a unified series, offering a comprehensive record of legislative activity and the U.S. government’s internal affairs.
While the specific details of the claim made by the Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Washington Railway Co. are not immediately apparent from the title alone, the nature of such claims typically involved matters such as:
- Land acquisition or use: The railway company might have been seeking compensation or resolution regarding land it utilized for its operations, potentially related to rights-of-way, eminent domain, or disputes over property boundaries.
- Contractual disputes: There could have been claims arising from agreements with government agencies or other entities that were not fulfilled as expected.
- Financial compensation or relief: The railway might have been requesting financial assistance, reimbursement for incurred costs, or settlement of financial obligations.
- Regulatory matters: Claims could also pertain to grievances or requests related to government regulations impacting the railway’s operations.
The date of the report, April 1943, places this claim within a pivotal period of American history. The United States was fully engaged in World War II, and the nation’s infrastructure, including its railway systems, played a critical role in the war effort. The demands of wartime transportation likely placed significant strain on existing railway networks and may have been a factor in the company’s situation leading to this claim.
The fact that the report was “Ordered to be printed” signifies that it was formally presented to the Senate and was considered worthy of public dissemination and legislative record. This process allows for scrutiny by members of Congress, interested parties, and the public.
The accessibility of this historical document through govinfo.gov is a testament to the ongoing commitment to making government information transparent and readily available. Researchers, historians, railway enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intricate workings of the U.S. government can now delve into the specifics of this particular claim from 1943. Studying such reports provides invaluable insights into the challenges and developments faced by transportation companies during a crucial era and illuminates the legislative processes that addressed them.
The publication of S. Rept. 78-175 on govinfo.gov serves as a reminder of the enduring importance of historical records in understanding our past and informing our present.
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govinfo.gov Congressional SerialSet published ‘S. Rept. 78-175 – Claim of Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Washington Railway Co. April 9 (legislative day, April 6), 1943. — Ordered to be printed’ at 2025-09-12 17:13. Please write a detailed article about this news in a polite tone with relevant information. Please reply in English with the article only.