After retiring from The Sun in 1913 Riggs became an executive assistant to the president of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.
Riggs began his newspaper career by writing about financial and commercial subjects for the New York World.
His tenure with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad involved him serving as an intermediary between newspapers in the United States and the company's president.
In 1912 he was named by Governor John Adams Dix to the New York City Public Service Commission.
He was never confirmed in part because of opponents in Tammany Hall who considered Riggs a member of the Republican Party.