The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1882-01-19
How tie Express Business Started.

HOW lie Express rbuSlneSS SGaIteus
Josiah Quincy writes as follows
in the Independent; Ihave just found
an old letter addressed TO me sson
the 9th of o stober, 1888, which led to
results quite overpowering in their mag
nitude. The writer is William F. Harm.
den. He tells me that he has applied
for post ofconductor upon the West
ern railroad, and solicits my influence
as treasurer of the road, "should you
think me worthy of the Office" Harm
den had been selling tickets at the
Worcester railroad depot, but found
this Office much too sedentary for his
active nature. He was man who
wanted to be moving. For some rea-
son I do not recall, Harnden did not,
get the conductorship; but his applica-
tion brought me in contact With this
1.-the, intelligent young fellow, who
wished to be on the go, and suggested
to him new sort Of business, which in
the hands of bright man I thought
might be pushed to success. As direc-
tor and president of the Providence
railroad I was compelled to make
weekly journeys to New York, whore
the bulk of our stock was held.
The days of my departure were well
known, and I was always met at the
depot by q bevy of merchants clerks
who wished to intrust packages of busi-i
ness papers, samples of goods and other
Light matters to my care. The mail
establishment was at that time utterly
insufficient to meet the wants of the
public. The postage was seventeen
cents upon every bit OF separate paper,
and this was burdensor,e tar upon
the daily checks, drafts snd receipts
incident to mercantile transactions.
was ready to be of service to my 2riends
though some Of them thought my good
nature was imposed upon when they
found I was obliged to carrya large
travelling bag to receive their contribu-
tions. I kept this bag constantly in
sight on my journey, and upon arriving
in New York delivered it to a man
whom the merchants employed to meet
me and distribute its contents. Now, it
occurred to me that here was an oppor-
tunity for somebody to do, for an ade-
quate compensation, just what I was
doing for nothing. Ipointed out to Mr..
Harden that the collection and delivery
of parcels. as well as other transporta-
tion, might be undertaken by one re-
sponsible person, for whose services the
merchants would be glad to pay.
The suggestion fell upon fruitful
soil Harnden asked me for special
facilities upon the Boston and Proyi-
dence road, which 4 gladly gave him,
end with the opening year he COM
meuced regular trips twice 8 week, Z
think he made them), bearing in his
hand q small valse; and that valisa
contained in germ the immense e1press
business-contained it as the acorn
contains the forest of oaks that may
come from it; but many generations
are required to see the magnifcence Of
the forests. while the growths OF human
enterprise expand to their wonderful
maturity in one short life. Harnden's
fate was that too common with pioneers
and inventors. He built up a great
business by steady industry, saw all it's
splendid possibilities, tried to realize
them before the time was ripe and died
a poor man at the age. of thirty-three.
In attempting to extend the express
business to Europe he assumed risks
that were ruinous, and the stalwart
Vermonter, Alvin Adams, took his place
as chief in the great industry which had
arisen under his hands.