Opened law practice here, 1884. Became an Assistant Attorney General
of Texas, 1893. Won election 1897 to Railroad Commission; served 26 years?16
years as chairman. The Commission had been created in 1891 to regulate
shipping rates and practices. In his term as chairman, oil and gas regulation?a major responsibility?began
with jurisdiction over pipelines, 1917. In 1919 the Legislature made the
Commission responsible for conservation of oil and gas. In the 1920s pro-ration began. Complete regulation came in the 1930s
with the 1,700,000 barrel-a-day production in East Texas. Racked by Texas
Rangers, the Commission closed the field until conservation rules could
be revised. Commission policies were acclaimed when in World War 11 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 Mayfield set high ethical standards that have
continued in the Commission, causing it to merit the confidence of the
people and of the petroleum industry. This is attached to the back of this marker
Grayson
County TXGenWeb
