Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-13

UuS pOA VI sJage, Win Lne RIBBONS
OF four-horse team in his fist. Mr..
Dinsmore, as a harness-maker, was
broughtin contact with horsemen,
and knew, about horses. In late
years Messrs. Adams aud Sanford
have been noted for their stables,
and held the reins over the best
blood in the land. With the psfr-
chase Of the horse and wagon caine
q new field Of operations. The
New York and New Haven rail
road, just then completed, offered
them facilities and exclusive cor
tracts. for carrying money and
small packages in what was known
as a p. P. truck over its line. For
this Adams & Co. contracted to
pay, with fear and trembling in
their boots, the enormous sum of
S1700 a month, but almost at the
very start it proved a paying ven
ture-indeed, the venture which
determined them to continue in
their business. The next step was
to carry freight for merchants at
either end OF the line, and to estab-
lish agencies along the route as
well; and in less than three years
the whole custom of the country
was changed, almost all the light
freight and some of the heavier
being sent by railroad express, in
stead of on boats as freight.
The government was not slow to
follow the example of the banks
and merchants, and sent for Mr..
Adams to go to Washington. He
went, and made SO good an impress
sion that a contract was at once
entered into by which the company
were to carry over all their lines
the government treasure. When
the war broke out this duty meant
much more than in ordinary times.
Millions were sent by Adams g. Co.
every day all over the continent /;
sometimes millions in coin, some
times in bills or bonds. At times
they had armed guards to protect
the treasure, but, as o rule, the
government agent took the com.
pany's simple receipt, and sensibly
left the rest to the agents.
When the California fever broke
out in 1S49, Mr.. Adams was first
in the field, and sent out an express
under Mr.. ID. FL. Haskell, one Of the
keenest men in the service. He
took out wooden shanty for an
office, and soon made the place
headquarters for all the wise men
Of the East. Those were golden
days. The trouble, exposure, risk,
and cost of running an express to
San Francisco, and thence to the
interior can never be known by
hearsay. The messengers were
honest, for they carried millions
safely, Attacked by robbers, caught
IN turbid streams, tempted by new
diggings, and harrassed by hard
ships and fatigues, they did their
devoir like heroes. After the ex-
press had been doing finely, in an
evil day they opened bank. When
MIR. Adams went to San Francisco
the whole town rose at him. He
went to inspect, out he had no time
for that. He was wined all day
and dined all night. He wcs car
rled from point to 9oint in a car
riage drawn by four horses, and
treated like a prince. When he
got back he said he didn't know
whether he was Alvin Adams or
the Great Mogul. AT all events, he
knew he hadn't done what he went
to do. Express charges at the East
were moderate; in California they
were outrageous. Letters, daguer-
reotypos, and small packages from
loved ores at home went out at
eXtortionate rates, because of the
danger aud the risk. Ten to one
if the consignee ever saw the
freight which went il the wild rush
for the land of gold. Later, system
obtained and regular service ruled.
During the great financial scare the
California branch Of Adams Il Co.
went under. fortunately, the bust
ness here was in different shape. A
stock company was formed, with a
capital Of 81, 100000, called the
Adams Express Company, and as
the business had assumed colossal
proportions Mr. Adams, who was
seriously crippled by the California
failure, was not many years in ex-
Treating himself by the dividends
accruing to his share of the stock.
Mr.. Dipsmore had graduated
from The happy-go-lqcky harness
maker into the calm and portly |
president of the company. That
position he still holds, as he does
large amount of the stock, Mr. |
Hoey, who used to count newspa-
perS and deliver letters, was made
superintendent Of the great estab-
lishment, married the dramatic
favorite, Mrs. Russell, and is to-
day Long Branch millionaire.
Mr., Sanford, whose eager plead
ings for a Job enlisted the sympathy |
of Dinsmore, has left off hill-stick- |