The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-11


Casualties to ", ich the careless transportation
ofthe article conveyed from one Office to an
other, or from line to line, necessarily sub
jects it.
In this country these losses and inconve-
niences were provided against almost as soon
as felt, Although Harnden was the first to
give effect to any extensive and properly or
ganized system Of express lines, it had been at
tempted oa partial scale previous to his time.
From Harnden's energetic and enterprising eff
forts, however, the system, as it at present ex-
lists, may he said TO date its commencement.
Since lS40, about which period, if we recollect
rightly, he began TO run, multitude of CON-
panies have started up, and have for d brief De-
Rod obtained share of the public patronage.
As in all enterprises, however, in which large
capital constitutes the main element of success,
they have, one by one, dropped off, and aban-
doned the field to their weather. rivals The
whole of the home and foreign express business
is now in the hands of some half dozen compa-
MES, some of which, although the most pros
porous, are of comparatively recent date
As there are many Of our readers who are
probably unacquainted with the peculiar fea-
lures of the system, which have secured for it
the monopoly Of such large amount of tie
carrying trade of this country, it may be as
well to state that they ensure prompt delivery,
by forwarding all their freights by passenger
trains, and security, by despatching with them
a special messenger, whose duty it is never to
lose sight Of them until they are place. in the
care Of the company's agents at their different
destinations, by whom they are Immediately
delivered to the parties to whom they are ad-
dressed. For the better security of specie,
jewellery, and plate, every company has an
iron safe on the different trains, and unless
when there is local agent of the company at
hand to take his post as sentinel, the messen-
ger never quits the compartment of the car
riage in which it is placed even for the purpose
of refreshment This precaution was suggested
by the extensive robbery of specie effected on
the New York Central Railroad some seven OF.
eight years ago, and by which Wells, Living
ston Il Co. were extensive sufferers. The money
was contained in box, Of which the thieves
had an exact counterfeit made, and when the
messenger got out of the carriage to obtain
some refreshment, the trunk containing the
money was distracted, and the empty one sub
stitutcd. Owing to the strict system of police
now adopted by the different companies, it is
almost impossible that they can be subjected to
loss by any other cause than fire, or some other
accident to train.
Ihc express lines not only convey every
description of merchandise and produce that
the railroads will carry, but also goods that
the latter will not accept, or more properly
speaking, will not guarantee. Agrculturists,
even. find it their interest to send the more ne
rishable products of their farms through this
medium and we have heard of one COMPANY
which conveys to New York about fifteen tons
of fresh butter daily. Forwarding all their
goods, as we have said before by passenger
trains, there is in such cases an obvious advan-
tage in adopting this mode of transport
The express companies that have survived
the extensive competition to which the profit
able nature of the business has yearly subjected
them since their first origin, are those of
Adams q Co, the american Express Company,
Harndcn, the United States Express Company
(an ofshoot of the Americana Kinsley & Co.,
the National Express Company, Berford & Co.,
Wells, Fargo & Co., and Edwards, Sanford
d Co. The two last are principally engaged
in the Californian. Australian and European
trade.
Although it is impossible to arrive with any
degree of exactness at the amount of businc IS
transacted by these firms, we think that we
shall be rather undertaking than overstatinc The
amount of freights daily conveyed to and from
this city by them, to be one hundred tons each
way. The profits cleared by them, after all ex-
penses are paid, may be estimated at upwards of
$1,000 per day. For the amount of capital
employ ed-sl, 500 00O-there are few enter
prises that can be said to yield more profitable
returns.
The statistics of the operations of these COM
panes present some curious facts 1t has been
calculated, for instance, that the messengers of
six firms travel at the rate of about 81 900 |
miles day in the following proportions
Adams ~ Co.'s, 10000; the American Express |
Co.'S, 10000; the United States Express Co.'S, |
5000; Harnden's, 1,OoO Kinsley's, 1000, and |
the Nationals, 1000. The number of en-
ployes in the service of these six companies is !
as foilows:-Adams x Co.. $685. American, |
SOOi United States Express Co., 300; Harm
den, 100; kinsley, 100; National, 100 THIS |
would give proportion of twenty-one and a
half miles per day to each man.
To speak of the facilities afforded by this or
ganization. and the punctuality and certainty
impaired to commercial operations by its
means, would be to dilatc upon subject of
which almost every one in the community has
daily experience. As, however as il often the
case in things familiar, but few take the troabl,
to Investigate its origin or examine it results.
we have thought it right that facts SO ere.
ditablc to American enterprise should at least
receive from the press the tribate OF passing
notice.