Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-12-31
l ". m. 3m. 6n. Tyr.
EEOw the Express Business Started.

EOW tfao Express Business Started.
have jus: t11ud au cid letter, addressed to
me ou the 9Th OF O,obcr. 1888, which led TO
results q7lto overpo wsrpg il their magnitude.
The wriseri is William +. HsIudec. lie tells NE
that he has applied fer post of conductor upon
tho Wessera railroad, and solicits my itfuauca
SIS treasurer Of tho road. SHOULD you thirk me
worthy OF the Office" Haraden had been ssll-
ing lickosS at the Worcester railroad depot. but
fuu1d this occupation much too Sedcntsry for
bis aciYe nature. He was man who wanted
to b. moving. Ftr some rcnson, which do
cot recall. Harndan did not get the oonduc-
tCIShip; bu: bis application brought me 10
who wished to BE 90 the g.. aud | suggested
hands OF g bright man / thought might bs
pushed to success. As director and president
OF thc Prcviderce railroad. was compelled to
mako Retk = journeys 10 Niw York. where tho
bu k OF orr stock vas held. The dsys Of my
depsrture We're we'll koown. aud | was always
met at tho depot by bs7y Of merchants
clerks. who wished to entruss packages OF busi-
mess papers. salDp Piles Of goods and other light
matters 10 II? care. The mail establishment
Rss at that !iua utterly insufficient to meet the
EGnts of sha public. Tbs postage Wls seven
!oeu conts upon tvary separate bit OF paper,
end this was hnFdersome tax upon tho
daily checks. dEtfs sud receipts incident
20 nero, ntlo traosDortGtlOts. | IVES ready
TO be OF service to my friends, though
soulo OF shem thought MY ggood ps
tu;a Was imposed upon when they fund
thst l was obliged to enr7 large travelling
bag 70 receive their C c;nt!ibuticns. | kept
this bag constantly in siphs on my )urney, scd
upon ar;iyiog 10 New YORK, delivered it to
man Wacm tho merchants employed to meet mo
aud distribute lis c)utcrts. Now, it ccocr:id d
TO mo that hero Gss an opportunity tor some
b2dy to do, for M ADEQUATE o1m pensation, just
What vas d0irg fer Dothirg. | pointed Out to
Mr.. Hsrnden that lie celtic ion and delivery Of
parcels, rs we'll 20 their nsportstion, might be
uader aSau by oue r,spousible person. for
wlsS; sstv.ces the merchants you'd be gsd to
pay. The .ug ,es'ion fell upon fruitful soil.
H.rc3en asked me tor sDtcial fac,li,ies upon
.be Btson Provdetc, road, which | gladly
gave hiln, and With the openlrg yaar he COM
rnero sd repular trGs twicc week | thiok he
laade IN >p !, bearing 10 bis hand small vaise;
sDG that va!lse Contained 10 germ tho in
mc0sG express busluess-c ,utslncd il cs the
aooFa c1utains tie fVres: cf oaks that may
c5ma lrcm bet nauY generations srs rtquil
ed 20 seu thu msgnl6corc, ofthc forests, while
the Hrowths OF human enterprise tx 3aud to
their wonderu! nsturi y 10 one short life.
HarnGeb'S fate was that too coDmon with pic
uccrS AID inventlrl. He built up great b1si
usss b2 steady irGus!ry, saw all It's splendid
possibilities, lrid to real z, Them before the
tlma was ri5e, spd died poor man. as the age
OF thirty three. In Attempting to extend the
express business to Europe, ho assumed risks
thss Wsre runoua. and h, stalRart Vermonter,
Alvin Adams took bis p'aos as chief 10 the
gzest Industry Rhloh has risen uudfr his hands.
-J0SIah Quincy IN the Independent.