The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-06-17
a Chapter Oh Express Business.

he institution of the express business in
com ecliOn with railroads lad its origin
about thirty.tvc years since. Prior 10 that
ill c a hind OF express business vas con.
Quoted >! tie plincipsl stage lines in tie
iniru States. They carried with the cTpe-
dion hAuwn at that day light pack Igc>
greater OF lesser distances, very much TO the
accommodation OF the public. The horse
tNplc>s Was also used and 1T one time Post.
lna>ter General KENDALL Instituted Il horse
express that, with tue use OF the short lines
OF railway that interviewed, made the Tip
from New Orleans to Washington in fee
oayS-then deemed Il great achievement
We do not mean, however, 10 enter parlicll-
lariy into the history Of expresses. We only
intend 10 speak Of The economy of the eX-
press business so far as it relates 10 railroads.
i@' Adams company proved 10 be the
strongest Of several that were projected
about the same period. For Instance :
ADAMS was not the first who embarked III
The business between this city and Baltimore
ROGERS Il MEEDS were alIead OF them. IGey
soon sold OFT to the Adams com pany, and
;hat has been Il fixture in this city ever
since.
The express companies originated in a
public necessity, which demanded that light
goods-mouey and articles of value-Should
luuvc from point to point with the speed of
passenger trains in charge OF reliable per-
sons.
The railroad companies recognized The
necessity, but they did not dream of under
, taking themselves to meet the demand. They
D readily and amic;.bly arranged with the en-
tncss companies TO perform the service.
The question presented 10 the railroad
companies was : is it better for Us TO sur
1erGer this business, which requires messen-
ger, horses, wagons, and 4 searching and
rolnplicated system extended over an i'm
sncnse territory, or is it better not to entan-
sgle our business with ii and leave it to those
who may make it specially and expand
their operations at will? The railroad cor
lorations Of that time unanimously and
> wisely determined TO give the business up
10 others, and in no wise to embarrass their
operations 10y it.
The business commenced 10 meet neces-
sity, grew by degrees, until now it is spread
over the ,rhole c0untry-nay, the civilized
world. Immense advantages have grown
out of it. Ii We except the postal service
there i, noGe which more promotes the COM
fort and prosperity of man than the ex.
press. Look, for Instance, at the G. D.
D.-the "c0llect on delivery" feature.
See how it facilitates commerce, and
w!.at an excellent moral effect it has.
by ii men who never saw and never heard
of each other are enabled to transact bust
ness with each other without the interyen-
lion of introductions, correspondence, and
letters OF credit. Articles of value are sent
aud paid for on receipt. Accounts are
squire. So men who are In moderate cir.
camstances may keep small stocks and re-
I,lenish them at will for cash. The cash
principle is more effectually instituted than
ever, and men are stimulated to economy
and energy. The effect on the economy of
business has been most happy. Never in the
world before has society been SO benefited,
and never before could the wants Of all be
so rapidly and economically supplied. So
1hc express is great institution, for which
we may be profoundly grateful.
Upon the question whether the railroads
themselves would do better by attending
themselves to the express business than to