Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-10-24
THE EXPRESS BUSINESS.

There is scarcely town or village in New
England that docs not, To some extent, enjoy the
advantages OF Expire. accommodations. At the
same time few persons have full estimate OF
the extent and Importance of the business The
Express is an AWerican institution Its whole
history is comprised within few years. As the
names and persons of some of the individuals
mentioned in the subjoined article are familiar
10 our readers, we thought they would be inter-
este in the facts therein narrated:
From the New York Courier & Emo uirpr
Twenty or twenty-five ycars ago, (hcfnre eitt-
er Express companies or magnetic telegraphs
were thought of,) liberal and cnterprising poll
cians and political editors, eager for news Of
elections or ambitious of the honor of having the
earliest ropy of the Presidents Message, would
arrange for a special express for the purpose
We well remember that in 1886 or 1877, Henry
F. Harrington, at that time The bustling, Jealous
editor Of a Boston daily paper, made the trip
from Worcester to Boston, distance of AZ miles,
in one hour, or minute or two short of II. He
rode upon locomotive, which had ONLY tender
attached Ia it and in those days the engineers
had so little protection from the sparks and dust,
that our friend H. presented very comical ap-
pearanre, as. with that precious document, the
Presidents Message, in his hand, he rushed from
the depot to his Office
In the rousiug times, still earlier when An
drew Jackson was in the presidency, and Wel-
ster, Clay, Calhoun, Adams, Benton, Cass and
Buchanan in the Senate, such enterprises were
qnent-ihough Mr.. Harrington (now, and
for years past, Unitarian Clergyman in good
sianding) was the only editor that we knew of
taking so active part, personally, in the bust
ness.
But the Express service, properly sn called,
does not date bark beyond the ori tn of Ameri-
can railroads. Prior 10 tina; epoch, stage-drivers
had performed duties similar TO those now dis
charged by expressmen aud ''bdggage-Vd CONS
$50 called, though they carried merchandise as
welD served instead OF frelghtrains. With the
innovation OF railways, the stage-drivers and
wagoners found, like Oiheo their Occupation
gone"
The loss of their services seriously incommod-
ed the public; but the railroad offered no rene.
dy. Years passed. trade and intercommunica-
ton between town and country suffering, in the
meantime, from This cause
AT length, hardly realizing what an improve
ment he was about to effect, Wm. +. Harnden,
then conductor uron the Boston and Worces-
ter Railroad, started the Express business. 1t
original with Linn hut to him is due the honor
of having bean the first to put it into execution.
The following is a copy Of his earliest adver-
tisement--the announcement of the fr-l Express
ever in regular use-and this, it will be seen,
was to run only four days in the week We
think il worthy of preservation We find it in
Boston newspaper of February 20, 1889.
BOSTON AND NEW YORK. TRAIN of cars.l EXPRESS
CAR IMPORTANT TO MERCHANTS, BROKERS,
BOOKSELLERS, AND OTHERS.
W. F. HARNDEN,
For the last five years conductor and passenger
clerk for the Boston and Worcester Railroad Com.
pany, has made arrangements with the Providence
Railroad and New York Steamboat Companies, tc
run car through from Boston to New York, and
piee rersa, four times a week, commencing on Mon
day, 4th March, He will accompany car him
self for the purpose of purchasing goods, collecting
drafts notes. and bills. Orders Of all kinds prompt
y attended to. lie will take charge of all small
packages of goods, bundles, Sc, that may be en-
trusted to his care, and sos them safely delivered
and attend to forwarding merchandise of oil de
scriptons Except that prescribed by the railroad
companies,) if directed to his care. All packages
bundles, &c, must be sent to office, No. 9 COur