Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-12
I've M PACKAGES.
responsibilities which the Express Com.
paHies Decline for Sufficient
Reasons.
New York SUM-

New York SUM-
A great many persons have the idea
that if they happen to have an infant.
idiot, or maniac that they wish to
transfer to some distant point they
have only to leave the article at the
nearest express Office, after paying the
charges or seeing it adorned with a
"C. y. d." tag. AT frequent intervals
an item goes the rounds of the coun-
try press, stating that Little Tommie
Somebody, who was "ticketed through"
by express from Kalamazoo to Key
West, arrived safely at his destination
and was ascertained to have cut sew
eral teeth and gained half a dozen
pounds during the journey. OF course
he smiled when his aunt paid the
charges, removed the tag and lugged
him away. Such an article is sure to
be copied and to be read. The idea is
a taking" one, inasmuch as there is a
sort Of novelty about it; and, though
there are not many persons who would
care to transfer their infantile progeny
by hat method, there are great mum.
bers who fancy that the express COM
panies can transport idiots and lunatics
as well as infants, and who make ap-
plication for the transfer of such
human packages. Frequent applica-
tons are made also for the transfer of
unprotected young women by express.
The main offices in this city have
uchapplicationsnearl everyd day all of.
which are refused, because the cOmpa-
MES do not accept such responsibili-
ties. Occasionally an agent at some
country Office accepts such a package,
but if it has far to go it is almost
invariably detained by the agent at
the first transfer Office, A country
agent somewhere In New Jersey not
long ago accepted a lunatic which was
to be forwarded toa Maryland town.
The insane package got as far as
Easton, Pa, where it was stopped by
the agent and sent back in charge Of
o robust employe to the place from
which it started. The matter was
reported to tho general Office in this
city, and o letter was addressed to the
New Jersey agent, instructing MIN not
TO receive human packages unless
properly boxed "-by tho undertaken.
of course.
The reasons given for not accepting
the responsibility of transferring live
persons are those which would natur-
ally occur to any person thinking
about it. In ease of accident, the
damage may be such hat cannot be
repaired by the payment of money /;
the express cars have no conYeniences
for the transportation of such goods
and the agents are all too busy at the
transfer points to take care of helpless
persons. They must keep an eye con
stantly ON their safes, and they are
therefore unable TO lug infants to 9TH
or cars, pilot idiots, haul maniacs, or
escort unprotected young women,
When application for the carrying of
such parcels are made at the express
offices the persons applying are advised
to place their goods in charge Of Il
draRing-rOom car conductor, who
usually has ample time Ia take care of
them, and will do so for a reasonable
consideration. Persons who are thus
advised do n~otreturn again with q like
application, but the average is kept up
by. applications from the ranks OF the
millions who read at frequent inter
yals sush lctioDs as the transfer Of