The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-17

Origin Of the Express Basiness.
Travellers on the Long Island SQUAD Of
about thirty-seyen years ago might have
observed on board the steamer then run
ming between Providence and New York
IN under-sized, delicate built, sanguine
looking young man who accompanied the
vessel on alternate trips, and constantly
carried in his hand small earpet-bag of
half bushei capacity. He was William
F. Harnden, and his bag contained the
beginnings of the express forwarding busi-
ness Of the United States, which, with the
exception Of the railways and telegraphs,
now surpasses all other private enterprises
10 the world.
Born at Reading, Massachusetts, in
1872, he was employed as conductor Of
the first passenger train that ran in New
England, and was afterward promoted to
the position of ticket agent on the Boston
and Worcester Railway. The sedentary
desk-work did not suit him, however, and
in 1887 he came to New York in search
Of more eongenial employment. At the
corner Of Wall and Pearl Streets stood the
old Tontine Coffee House, famous resort
for the merchants and ship-owners Of those
days, and in connection with it there was
an admirable news room--a sort Of Lloyd s
or Garraway's-conducted by james w.
Hale, local celebrity, who afterward ex-
tended his fame by promoting cheap
postal system in opposition to the govern
ment. Mr.. Hale was man Of varied
experience and genial disposition. He
was one Of the most active men Of his day,
and Harnden went to him for advice in
seeking employment Hale became inter
ested in him, and in the course Of few
days advised him to establish himself as
an expressman between New York and
Boston, business never before transact
ed and name never before assumed.
As there have been other claimants to
the honor of having originated the enter
prise, and as Mr. Hale is still living, / win
repeat statement which he made to me
in July last. There was never day, he
said, that inquiries were not made at the
news room for some person going to Boston
or Providence. Some wanted 10 send
small parcels to their friends, Others letters
or circulars; but the most frequent appli-
cants we're money-brokers, who wanted to
forward packages Of Eastern bank-notes to
Boston for redemption. If On acquaint-
ance was found on the boat, he was pounced
upon without ceremony, and burdened with
the packages, which were sometimes worth
many thousand dollars. But If a friend
did not appear, the things were often in
trusted to entire strangers, with the modest
request that they would deliver them i'm
mediately after their arrival. Merchants
and brokers seeking gratuitous transporta-
tion for their letters contributed largely to
the excitement attending the departure of
the steamer, and many persons viii remem-
Der the nights Of anxiety they have passed
on the Sound, when such unexpected
wealth has been temporarily thrust upon
them. "When Harnden called upon me
for advice" Mr.. Hale stated, II thought
of the daily inquiries made at my Office,
"Do you know any body going to Boston
this evening 2" and Immediately advised
him 10 travel between the two cities and
do errands for the business men. l also
suggested that the new enterprise should
be called "The Express" which gave the
idea Of speed, promptitude, and fidelity
Harnden hesitated for several days,
doubling whether the scheme would be
profitable, but eventually he decided to
try It, and bought the historic travelling
bag, which is still preserved in Boston.
A small slate for orders was hung in the
news room, and the patrons Of that insti-
tuition were Harnden's chiefpatrons. The
old merchants had become so accustomed
to transportation of smaller articles without
cost that they did not readily observe the
advantages athe express offered, and at
the end Of two months Harnden found all
his capital absorbed. His receipts were
less than his expenses, and he would have
discontinued the service had not some
friends procured free passages for him on
an opposition steamboat. With the pass.
age-money as a subsidy, athe express
prospered, and the business SO increased
that Harnden soon engaged an assistant
--Harper's Magasins for August.