New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-20
The Express sJston-its Rise, Progress
md Present Condition.


A very interesting paper, prepared by Henry
Wells esq, who has been the President II the Amer
lean Express Company since its organization on the
Express Business was read recently by the Rev. w
W. Howard before the American Geographical aud
Statistical Society. Outside Of this country there was
such organized system Of transportation rs that
which designate By the Express" the pepper
would therefore necessarily be confined to the express
business as organized and conducted in the United
States and from these TO foreign countries. The assc.
citations formed in England and France for the trans
mission Of the SMALLER packages Of merchandise aud
valuable Property did not correspond in several import
ant particulars to our express companies.
The Parcels Delivery Companies" fret established
in Engend about 20 years ago soon became nothing
than collecting AID delivering agents or the DIFF
fereDt railroad companies except in that part of tier
business witch consisted Ia collecting and distributing
parcels in tie metropolis and larger towns. The rail-
road companies extended 10 them few privileges, not
permitting them TO transport aid pay freight on their
cOgsignmcnts IL bE but instead they were obliged 70
ray for each separate parcel II the same m rates that
were exacted from individuals. the menagers Of the
railways conducting The package well as the heavy
freight business.
In Franco and other parts Of Europe the Government
monopozes and treats as source Of revenue tho trans
portaton OF all packages not exceeding prescribed
weight Attempts 70 establish general express sys'
ten throughout the European Continent would
inevitably be frustrated by the voXatous delays,
expenses interruptions Of transit and insecurity at
teadnn tho passport sysem and the collection Of
municipal and governmental revenue imposts ut the
entrance gates cities and OF the houses on the
frontier lines Of Kingdoms States the territories
Of some Of which lie crossed in hour OF two or
syen in u few minutes In short. the distinguishing
features Of the American Express system-speed.
safety. economy. and rcsponsibiy-have not been
and probably cannot be attained in Europe.
Tic terra express system is properly applicable
only o. the method by which tho express business Ia
done In Ncw.York. the Middle. Southern md Western
States In the Eastern States the business is done 10y
very large number Of local expresses short routes
AMI independent Of each other No lees than $50 minor
expresses nom only three Offices In Boston. Asso
Citations for conducting the express business arc organ
Ted under the laws Of this State With capitals varying
from s2i0. 100 To s3.Oc00oo
In lsJ9. when Wm. Z. Hsrndcn undertook 10 estab
ish package express between Bcrton and NcwYoik.
The feasibility Of the enterprise probably suggested
by tie fact that tho stage drivers the various roads
ogl rum Bostoa In nc habit OF carrying and dc
yering small iArcels and Of executing such comn,s.
sions entrusted 10 them. and subsequently, the
like wGs done by railroad conductors. Hardens enter.
prise was no, NJ ars, suocessfs 10 encourage
even recomPense HIM hut the osiablislmen, Of the
CunaTd line u steamers between Boston snd Liverpool
caus,J such increase in the humber of parcels from
and to Sow.York 10 stimulate him to oontnuo and
extend the business he had begun.
In $40 be extended his lie 10 Philadelphia IL lsi
b. undertook the establishment ofs fregn express 10
Liverpool. London ard PaIis but this no. proving sue
ce-.ful Was soon discontinued The same year lie at
tempted to run an express on tie river c this city to
Albany but the steamboat companies did no, favor the
and tho difficulties woro made known to the
thor Of this paper and he undertook the Albany Agency
IL suggested the paper continues. Ito IIanden, the
e1pedenoy Of running Al express Buffalo AID IN
ctios Of porta; would permit 10 Chicago and
tho Car Vest but be had little faith in the feasibility
or sueoess II such an enterprise that his 10 my
was, II YOU choose TO run an express TO
the Rocky Mountains Won lad better do II your own
account. choose to run express who're there Is
business"
After giving n history Of tho Adams Express, the
paper states that tho ft attempt 20 run m cHpToss
from Albany % Buffalo was made in 1884, before there
was any continuous line Of railroad stages on the pro
posed route the messenger travelling by rel to Auburn,
by stage 90 Geneva by re 10 Rochester TO Loci port
by siege and thence 10 Buffalo by privnie conveyance
The through trip at the quickest rate, occupied ionr
Nights end three days. For eighteen months pei.
formed oil the then nulifsrigu. duties Of express
sengcr and agent as well those Of PROPRIETOR for
.yothirls Of that time did not lose trip, and out Of
81 nights have spent 10 on the road" The trip at first
was made only once week, then twice week. and in
4pIe al
For more than year after the Western Express
commenced running one carpet sack held all the vs'ua
BE packages. aud mcdurn.sized trunk all the rest OF
the freight. III 1912 tie Company demonstrated that
letters could DO proGtaby carried al low rate; and to
Va esrress more than to any other direct agency are
tho people indebted for the decreased cost aud the III
creased accommodations Of postal arrengemeh"' An
account was given Of the establishment OF expresses
with tho West the South and California In is'o tho
Wells a Coz and tho Livingston Fargo 'o's Tx
presses were consolidated into tolttock company
under The nsmo Of the American Express Company.
with n capital Of sl5o 900, Which has since Dceu In
creased 10 s3.0o0ooo.
Tbo husness Oh this line west Of buffalo Is stu car
red On In the name OF Livingston Fargo Co., ana 'ha'
ns. ., RnGao in the nnme Of Wells BUtterfeid co.
uyo,la FARGO & Co.'s California Express. organized IN
ls,2 has capital Of g. 900 oooi tbs United States tx
meas Company capital Of :: 900 ooo the New-Jer'ey
a. 900. ooo the Eosterp. 100000 Tho annual ca
neoses Of the Adams. American. and United STATES
ccmpsnies incurred In tho transportation o ne'sh'S
ooa hs salaries OF agents aud messengers amount 10
10, lcss than slOooOOoo. The single carpet Dag Oh
,sa has grown into more than 80 cars forwarded amy
ro, tis East By the American Express Company @one
lille the Adams and United States require at least M
nal amount of transportation. The American La
ea. conveys froghts over 1900 miles day IN direct
w., while ia messengers travel daily over oooo miles
"IS' :, - or ,ho .,,.ress on the business OF the