John H. Reagan

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about John H. Reagan. Now settle in, because this is a story about a man who understood something most folks never do: that the real power in a growing land isn't in the land itself.

It's in who controls what moves across it. John H. Reagan served as a congressman from 1876 to 1887, and in that time he sponsored the bill that created the Interstate Commerce Commission.

That alone would be enough for most men to hang their hat on and call it a career. But Reagan wasn't most men. In 1891, he resigned from the United States Senate.

Resigned. Walked away from one of the most powerful seats in the country. Why?

To head a newly-formed body called the Railroad Commission of Texas, modeled after that very Interstate Commerce Commission he'd helped bring into the world, and created to regulate shipping rates and practices. Some men step down. Reagan stepped across.

He served as chairman from 1891 to 1903, and during that term something was stirring beneath the Texas soil. Railway transportation of petroleum was becoming important in the state. The Commission took note.

In 1917, it was given jurisdiction over pipelines, and that move led to the formation of the oil and gas division. Then in 1919, the Legislature made the Commission responsible for oil and gas conservation. The rules kept sharpening.

Probation began in the 1920s. And then came the 1930s, when full regulation arrived and East Texas fields were pumping one million, seven hundred thousand barrels a day. One million, seven hundred thousand.

Let that number sit with you a moment. The Commission's policies were put to the ultimate test when World War II came knocking. Texas was able to supply the allies with great stores of oil necessary for victory, and the Commission's work was acclaimed for making that possible.

The goal, as the marker puts it, is to prevent waste and protect oil and gas reserves through orderly regulation of exploration, production, and transportation. And what men like chairman Reagan left behind wasn't just policy. It was a standard.

High ethical standards that continued in the Commission long after his time, earning the confidence of the people and of the petroleum industry alike. One man resigned from the Senate and in doing so helped shape how a whole state, and through it a whole war, would run on oil.

What the marker says

As congressman, 1876-1887, sponsored bill creating Interstate Commerce Commission; resigned 1891 from United States Senate to head newly-formed Railroad Commission, modeled after I.C.C., and created to regulate shipping rates and practices. In his term, 1891-1903, railway transportation of petroleum became important in Texas, the Commission was given jurisdiction in 1917 over pipelines. This led to formation of the oil and gas division. The Legislature made the Commission responsible in 1919 for oil and gas conservation. Probation began in 1920s. Complete regulation came in the 1930s with 1,700,000-barrel-a-day production in East Texas. Commission policies were acclaimed when in World War II Texas was able to supply the allies with great stores of oil necessary for victory. The Commission's goal is to prevent waste and protect oil and gas reserves by orderly regulation of exploration, production and transportation. Such men as chairman Reagan have set high ethical standards that have continued in the Commission, causing it to merit the confidence of the people and of the petroleum industry. Commemorative series on Texas Railroad Commission. Erected in Cooperation with Abell-Hangar Foundation, 1966.