Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-08-17
The EXPRESS Business.

The Express Business.
Notwithstanding the express business
has grown to such Importance in this
country, it had its day of small things.
james w. Hale, in the american Ood
Fello,c, gives us history of this begin
ming in manner so interesting that we
copy at some length. Mr.. Hale says /:
in 1887, Mr. William +. Harnden called
upon me at the news room, and stated
that he had been q conductor on the
Boston and Providence railroad, and that
the duties had been so arduous that his
health was much impaired. He wanted
to obtain employment in some other
business, and desired my advice as to
what he had better do.
[ bethought me of the daily inquiries,
edo you know anybody going to Boston
to-day ?" and remembering we'll the nice
little perquisites of the old-timo stage
drivers, and also in view of the experience
which Mr. Harnden had as a railroad
conductor, answered him at once: eyes,
I'll tell you what to do travel between
New York and Boston, anil do e,rdnolS
for other .folhS." Now, this would be
rather a long title by which to designate
ones business, and | therefore recon-
mended that the new enterprise should
be called "The Express" which would
suggest the idea of speed, promptitude,
dispatch.
Mr.. Harnden hesitated awhile, as he
was doubtful if it would pay, but at last
concluded to try the experiment He
bought carpet bag, which would hold
hardly half a bushel, and slate was
hung up in my news room, waiting
orders" My subscribers gave him his
first business, and circulated his scheme
among their friends. But the get-your-
Notwithstanding theory prevailed
to great extent, and all the parcels re-
ceived for several weeks were none too
many to be carried in the small carpet
bag. lie made three trips each week to
and from Boston, and at the end of a
couple of months was inclined to aban-
don the experiment, rs his expenses
exceeded his receipts.
At that time the writer was the bust
ness agent of an opposition steamboat
running to Providence, and was author
lied by the captain to pass Harden at
much less than the regular rate of pass
age. This saving of expense saved the
express, as business began to increase,
and as some customers objected to keep
their packages over for day, he was
advised to employ some one to travel on
the alternate days. Ayoung man named
Brigham, who was then out of employ
ment, volunteered for this duty, with no
other compensation than his board. The
daily express induced new business, and
the carpet bag was multiplied by two,
and three then large truck was sub
stituted, and soon larger one.
1t then became necessary for Harnden
to remain in Boston, and Brigham, hay
ing become partner, took desk in
New York, employing Pullen and Damon
as their first hired messengers. Suisse
quently, Harnden's brother Adolphus
was messenger, until he was lost on the
Lexington, which was burned on Long
Island Sound.
The business had now become so vast
that it was necessary to have crate on
board each steamer This was small
hand car about five or six feet square,
and was looked upon as a real wonder,
as it showed what a great thing the
express business was. In a few months
therefore, when it had become an estab-
lished fact-the greatest obstacles having
been surmounted, and the public gradu-
ally admitting its utility-then, as in
letter-carrying, other enterprising per-
SONS started in the same line of business,
but chiefly ON short routes leading out
of Boston,
At about this time, too, Mr. George
Pomcroy, of Albany, called upon me to
advise with him as to the feasibility of
running an Albany express, by the river
boats. [ knew but little of the wants of
that section of the country, but showed
him the difficulties he would have to en-
counter by the opposition of steamboat
captains and clerks, who were doing the
same kind Of business, and with whose
perquisites he would materially interfere
But he was plucky-stalted his machine,
and was successful, first as Pomeroy &
Co., then Pomeroy, Wells & Co., with
some other changes, until, finally, it grew
into the present American Express Co.
One Of the small Boston expresses had
previously been purchased by Mr.. Alvin
Adams, Of Boston, but the sphere was
too limited for his ambition. He there
fore started an opposition to Harnden,
between New York and Boston, but 60
ing over the new route of the Norwich
and Worcester railroad, which was then
in operation. 1t was first called Adams
Express then Adams e. Co.'S, and now
as corporation is known as the Adams
Express Co. Harnden died in 1914 or
As, and an annuity was secured to his
widow, for the continued use of the
name, but she never had any business