This artificial series contains all that remains of what was probably a large number of published reports by and/or for the General Assembly and various commissions and committees thereof pertaining to railroad matters. Not surprisingly, most deal with the Western & Atlantic Railroad which, prior to 1870, was owned and operated by the state. Specifically, most of these reports were published by a special commission formed by the General Assembly to investigate a petition filed by the first lessees of the railroad for reimbursement for certain repairs or "betterments" made by them. Many of the legislators felt that not only was the petition outrageous on its face, the amounts requested were grossly inflated. Included in this very important group of publications are inspections of the railroad property, transcripts of testimony and copies of petitions, arguments pro and con and amendments. Also included in this series are other legislative publications ranging from senate debate on modification of the Railroad Commission laws to the report of a committee investigating the role of Governor Alfred H. Colquitt in endorsing the bonds of the Northeastern Railroad. The publications are arranged as listed below. Unfortunately, many items were undated, thus not permitting the usual chronological arrangement. In lieu thereof, an effort was made to group all publications of the Western & Atlantic Special Commission together.