The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-07-09
Origin Of the Express Business.

Travellers on the Long Island Sound O
about thirty-seven years ago might hav,
observed on board the steamer thel
running between Providence and New
York an understood, delicately built
nguine-looking young man who ac
companied the vessel on alternate trips
and constantly carried in his hand
small carpet-bag of half a bushel cnpac
ity. He was William F. Harnden, and
his bag contained the beginnings Of tht
express forwarding business of thu
tion Of the railways and telegraphs, now
surpasses all other private enterprises il
| the world.
| Born at Reading, Massachusetts,, Ii
| 1912, he was employed as conductor O
the first passenger train that ran in New
England, and was afterward- promoted
| to the position OF ticket agent on the Bos
ton ana Worcester Railway. The se
dentary desk-york did not suit him
however, and in 1887 he tam9 10 New
York in search of more congenial EN-
ployment. AT the corner of Pearl and
Wall streets stood the old Tontine Cor
| fee-house, famous resort for the mer
chants and shIp-owners OF those days
and in connection with it there was an
admira Bile news-room--a sort of Lloyd's
~
Hale, local celebrity, who atterward
extended his fame by promoting cheap
postal system In opposition to the gov
ernment. 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 ad-
vice in seeking employment. Hale be-
came interested in him, and in the
course Of q few days advised him to es.
tabiish as an eXpressman between New
York and Boston-a business never be-
fore transacted and a name never before
assumed.
the honor OF having originated the en-
terprise, and as MIR. Hale is still living,
I will repeat a statement which he made
to me in July last.
( There was never day, he said, that
inquiries were not made at the news
rooms for some person going to Boston
or Providence. Some wanted. to send
small parcels to their friends, others
letters or circulars; but the most fre-
auent applicants were money brokers,
who wanted to forward packages OF
Eastern bank.notes to Boston for re-
demption. II an acquaintance was found
on the boat, he was pounced upon with
out ceremony, and burdened with the
DNCkdkGSS " ulCA W0AO pOluOblnO5 WI VII
many Thousand dollars. But If friend
did not appear, the things were often in
trusted to entire strangers, with the
modest request that they would deliver
them Immediately after their arrival.
Merchants and brokers seeking gratuit-
GUS transportation for their letters con
tributed largely to the excitement at
tending the departure OF the steamer /,
and many persons will remember the
nights of anxiety they have passed OH
the Sound. when such unexpected
wealth has been temporarily thrust
upon them. "When Hardin called upon
me for ADVICE" M. Hale stated, 81
thought of. the daily Inquiries made az
my office. DO you know anybody going
to Boston this EVENING" and ! imme-
diately advised him to travel between
the two cities and do errands for the,
business men. 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 he eventually decided to
Try II, and bought the historic travelling
bag, which is still preserved In Boston.
A small slate Tor orders was hung In the