The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-08-25

the smaller class OF packages, to the
bankers, brokers, jewellers, and others.
Go to the magnificent offices of the
express companies in all our large cities,
fitted up in such gorgeous style, and
each one almost sufficiently commo-
dious to accommodate the business of
the Bank of England or pay visit to
the princely city establishments, or to
the rural or seaside resorts of the great
express chiefs, any of them fit abodes
for sovereigns, and the natural thought
would be that business of such mag
nitude, which produced such results
must be one of the oldest institutions
of our country, the mature growth of
many years, probably as old as the Con.
stitution itself, and perhaps an offshoot
of some ancient European institution.
Some of my younger friends may
therefore be surprised to learn that this
huge machine which is run by more
than regiments of horses, and guided
by many thousand men; this great
power whose presence is felt in every
city, village and hamlet in our vast
country, which in each and every year
transports merchandise and other prop
erty more than double in value of our
whole national debt; this immense and
all powerful giant is as yet but mere
youth, being only about thirty years of
age.
In proceeding to show when this
giant was born, and how it happened,
the reader will have to excuse me for
being compelled to speak in the first
person singular, in relating the story:
In the year 1887 newsroom was kept
| hv M IN tho old Tontipa CoAaa House
corner of Wall and Pearl streets. The
subscribers and visitors thereto were
merchants, bankers, brokers, and other
business men. There was then no line
of railway running into New York, but
there was steamboat communication
with New Haven, and a daily line of
steamboats, to Providence, from whence
passengers went by railroad to Boston.
The Western railroad was then only
completed between Boston and Worces-
ter.
There was never day but inquiries
were made at the newsrOom If we knew
any person going to Boston or Provi-
dence on that day. Some would wish
to send small parcels to their friends
others had packages Of letters or circu-
lars (this was seven years before cheap
postage days.. But the most trouble
some seekers for victims were the money
brokers, who every day were obliged to
forward packages of Eastern bank notes
to Boston for redemption, and exchange
for New York and Southern notes. If
an acquaintance happened to be found
going on the boat he was bounced upon
without ceremony, and saddled with
more or less of these packages, some
times amounting to many thousand dol
lars, and if a friend did not make his
appearance, such parcels would not in
frequently be handed to an entire
stranger, with the superlatively modest
request that he would deliver them as
soon as he arrived, forgetting that per-
haps the traveller would like to make
his earliest call on his own family, his
friends, or attend to his own important
business. 1t would be hardly safe to
intrust such packages to strangers now
a-days
Probably not many of my travelled
readers who are over the age of fifty but
can recall without trouble the nights of
anxiety he has spent on Sound steam
er, when he has had some of this un-
expected wealth thrust upon him.
At about this time $3.50 Mr.. VIM.
F. Harnden called upon me at the
newsroom, and stated that he had been
a conductor on the Boston and Provi-
dence 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,
"Do you know anybody going to Boston
to-day?' and remembering well the
nice little perquisites of the old-time
stage drivers, and also in view of the ex-
perience which Mr.. Harnden had as a
railroad conductor, | answered him at
once; Yes, III tell you what to do:
travel between New York and Boston,
and do errands for other Jolks." Now, this
would be rather long title by which
to designate ones business, and there
fore recommended that the new enter.
prise 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
a carpet bag which would hold hardly
half bushel, and slate was hung up
in my news room, waiting orders.h
My subscribers gave him his first bust
ness, and circulated his scheme among
their friends. But the get-your-work.
done-for-nothing theory prevailed to a
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 bust
ness agent of an opposition steamboat
running to Providence, and was author
lied by the captain to pass Harnden at
much less than the regular rate of pas.
sage. This saving of expense saved the
express, as business began to increase,
| and as some customers objected to keen