Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-08-16
The Express Business.


Notwithstanding the express business
has grown 30 such importance in this
country, il had its day Of small things
james W. Hale, in the Amerion Odd
FelOu, gives us history Of this begin
ming in a manner 30 interesting that we
copy at some length. Mr.. Hale saws /:
in 1881, Mr.. William f. Harnden called
upon me at the news room, and stated
that he had been a conductor on the
Boston and Providence rHilroad, and that
the duties had been so arduous that his
health was much impaired. He wanted
10 obtain employment in some other
business, and desIred my advice as 10
what he had better do.
/ bethought me Of the daily inquiries,
ado You know anybody going 10 Boston
to-day ?" and remembering well the nice
little perquisites of the old-time stage
drivers, and also in view Of the experience
which Mr. Harnden had as a railroad
conductor, Ianswered him at once: "Yes.
I'll tell you what TO do travel between
New York and Boston, and do eTTdRds
for other folks" 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 il it would pay, but at last
concluded to try the experiment He
bought n 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 thei- friends. But the get-your-
work Misunderstanding 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 He 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, as his expenses
exceeded his receipts.
At that time the writer was the busi-
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 save1 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. A young man named
Brigham, who was then out of employ
ment, volunteered for this duty, with nc
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, hav.
ing become q partner, took desk in
New York, employing Pullen and Damon
as their first hired messengers. Subse'
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 q 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 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 il
letter carrying, other enterprising per
sons started in the same line OF business
but chiefly ON short routes leading ou
of Boston.
At about this time, too, Mr.. Georg'
Pomeroy, of Albany, called upon me tt
advise with him as to the feasibility o
running an Albany express, by the rive
boats. 1 knew but little of the wants o
that section of the country, but showed
him the diffic llties he would have to en-
counter by the opposition of steamboa
captains and clerks, who were doing thu
same kind of business, and with who's
perquisites he would materially interfere
But he was plucky-started his machine
and was successful, first as Pomeroy
Co., then Pomeroy, Wells & Co., will
some other changes, until, finally, it grey
into the present American Express Co.
One of the small Boston expresses ha'
previously been purchased by MIR. Alvil
E Adams, of Boston, but the sphere wa
too limited for his ambition. He there
fore started an opposition to Harnden
between New York and Boston, but go
!, ing over the new route of the Norwicl
and Worcester railroad, which was thel
. in operation. 1t was first called Adams
Express then Adams & Cos, and nov
as corporation is known as the Adam
Express Co. Harnden died in 1874 o
As, and an annuity was secured to hi
widow, for the continued use OF tn
!, name, but she never had any busines
u CONTROL of the concern