The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-01-14
------------------=- -------------
THE ExPRESS CARRIER.

A correspondent "Ney," in the
Houston Mercury, gives n lengthy
history of the express business, rs
inaugurated and carried ON in this
country, beginning with the first ven
ture by VIM. Il. Harnden, in the
spring of 1889, and its advancement up
to the present date. In 1910 Alvin
Adams started in the business, in OPP
position to Harnden, and by his
energy and business pluck, soon estab-
lished branches from New York to all
the eastern and western cities. A good
many opposition lines were started
afterwards, some of which were fail
ures and some successful. Among the
most important of the latter was that
of Wells, Fargo & Co., established at
Buffalo, in 1915, and when the break
ing out of the gold fever, the business
was extended to California, and the
other Pacific States, and has since
penetrated all the territories, and even
into Texas. The Texas Express Com
pany, which now has offices in every
important town and city in the State,
is under the able and popular manage
ment of Col. A. b. Small, the Presi.
dent of the company. The company
was formerly domiciled in New
Orleans, but its headquarters have
recently been removed to Houston. 1t
has the entire control of the territory
of Texas; is extending its lines as
rapidly as possible throughout the
State, and is gradually but surely in
creasing its business.
The office in Dallas was established
about eighteen months ago, and has
grown in importance until to-day it
ranks second to only Galveston in the
amount of business transacted, and
is still increasing.
The correspondent concludes his
very readable and interesting article
as follows:
Having, at more length than I at
first intended, spoken of the origin of
the express business and its principal
companies, / will briefly now speak of
the great commercial advantages
offered by the express carrier to bust
ness men, which is the most important
part of my subject. These advantages
are not SO generally understood or
embraced rs one would naturally sup
pose, and not so much in this State, or
other new States, as in the older
States
Whether 1t is really from q want of
knowledge of their advantages, or an
Indifference to them, l am unable to
say. | take up now the assertion
which was made in the first part of
my subject, which was to the effect,
that, if the science of express business
was more thoroughly understood, the
great advantages it offers more gener-
ally embraced, there would now be
less financial distress in the country,
business men would have greater
balance to their credit, and business
would be in more healthy condition.
A man can do large and more
profitable business by the use of the
express, with a capital of $4,000, than
he could withIs50, 900 without the aid
of the express. To illustrates: A and
b start in business; A with a capital Of
$50, 900 and b with q capital of $40, 900.
Is proposes, after the first shipment, to
depend upon the express company for
delivering his goods. A, on transport
tation companies, using sail-vessels,
steamboats,, canals and freight trains.
They go to New York, and invest their
capital In stock of goods, return
home and open business. a, with the
assurance Of having large capital,
and with his old ideas of using slow
transportation companies, has bought
largely, Unfortunately of all classes
of goods, without much regard as to
what class he might have the most call
for sufficient for the season. b, eau
tious with his capital of $4,000, and
proposing to replenish daily or weekly,
through the medium of the express
company, his stock, has bought with
great care and consideration. Business
Is opened and continued to the end OF
the season. Both have done the same
amount Of business. A, through the
season has not had so well all assorted
stock, and at the end has dead stock
| of goods on hand, stale, unmarketable,
or Questionable, as the case may be-