Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-05


Josiah Quincy. writes as follows
In the independent Ihave Just found
an old letter addressed 10 me -ou
the 9th of Ostober, 1893, which led to
results quite eoverpowering in their mag
nitude. The writer IL William r. Harm.
den. he tells me that he has applied
for post OF conductor 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 1t the
Worcester railroad depot, but found
this Office much too sedentary for hia
active nature. He was a man who
wanted to be moving. For some rea-
son / do not recall, Harnden did not
get the conductorship; but his applica-
ton 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 q bright man thought
might be pushed 10 success. As direo-
tor and president of the Providence
railroad l was compelled to make
weekly journeys to New York, whore
the bulk Of our stock was held.
The days of my departure were we'll
known, and I was always met at the
depot by q bevy Of merchants clerks
who wished to intrust packages of busi-
ness papers, samples of goods and other
light matters 10 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 bi. of separate paper,
and this was q burdensome tAx upon
the daily checks, drafts and receiuts
incident to mercantile transactions. I
was ready to be Of service to my friends,
though some of them thought my good
nature was imposed upon when they
found / was obliged to carry n large
travelling bag to receive their contribu-
tions. kept this bag constantly in
sight on my journey, and upon arriving
in New York delivered it to q man
whom the merchants employed TO meet
me and distribute its contents. Now. IL
occurred to me that here was an oppor-
tunity for somebody to do, for an ade-
quate compensation, Just what was
doing for nothing. Ipointed out to Mr.
Harden that the collection and delivery
OF parcels, as well as other transporta--
ton, 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 speciaI
facilities upon the Boston and Provi-
dence road, which 1 gladly gave him,
and with the opening year he COM
menced regular trips twice 3 week, I
think he made theml, bearing in his
hand a small valise; and that yalise
contained in germ the immense express
business-contained it as the acorn
contains the forest of oaks that NAV
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 vas that too common with pioneers
and inventors. He built up a great
business by steady industry, saw all its
splendid possibilities, tried to realize
them before the time was ripe and died
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.