The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-31
THE EXPRESS WAR.
Termination of the Struggle and Recon.
struction of the Business Map

Termination of the Struggle and Recon-
struction of the Business Map.
New York Special.
The three great express companies of the
United States have been in consultation here for
upward of a month. and, although the results Of
the consultation have not been made public,
yet inquiries in lower Broadway, which is the
express center, were met with suoh evident de-
sire the part of the higher officials to give no
publicity that further inquiries among the lower
grades OF nanagers bring forth many things
which will he of interest to express and railroad
men, as well to the express-shipping public.
The West was represented by Weir, of Cincln-
natl, of the Adams; Cone, of Toledo, of the
United States; and Fargo, of Chicago, of the
American
1t seems that over year ago the Adams
started raid on the Ohio and Indiana lines OF
the American and United States companies, the
lines being those controlled Dy the Pennsylva-
mia railroad. 1t occupied all Of them in a single
night. and announced that it had done so in the
interest of the Pennsylvania railroad, as the lat
ter insisted thgs it wanted for its line of road all
expresR busrress which was created on it's lines:
while IL 1t was taken bv the American it would
be FRIED over the New York Central and II by
the United States, 1t would be carried by the
Erie. A big express war was Imminent, but the
Adams is stone wall to buck against, and the
AIloFlCdu yittufut dCceptlHR liom the Auutu5 IL
money compensation. The United States re-
fused to recognize the right of the Adams to
take the step IL had, characterized it as fiat
burglary" and proceeded to put on it's fighting
clothes. ThereupOn the Adams made still greater
advances, and took the Grand Rapids & Indiana
road from the United States Then the latter
got mad. It established offices in Plttsburg and
in various other places where the Adams had
stTongh0lds. and finally organized an express
called the New York and New England, with
which IL Invaded Adams's very best territory
that In New England-and opened shop under
the shadow OF Alvin Adams's monument. The
war has been carried on for year. and finally
both parties concluded they had enough. The
American acted &c peace-rnaker, brought the
two parties together, and assisted in healing the
wounds The Adams gets the lines 1t seized in
the night in Ohio and Indiana and agrees to
haul its men out of Michigan and give up the
Grand Raufds road The United States aban-
dOns the Erie and New England e. press, and The
latter Ia to be buried at once.
The Adams and American companies have
been the tuint owners of expresses In north
western Pennsylvania and northeastern ONO
called the Union Express, organized some twelve
or more years ago to work in the oil regions. It
is said to have done well during the oil excite
ment, but Of late years has not been productive,
and therefore 1t was considered best to dissolve
the partnership, and each take its share oil the
lines and see II. by saving the expense of a dis
tlnct organization, the property could not be
brought To- n paying basis.
The distribution of the lines of the Union ES-
press as near asGan ne ascertatned, Is as follows;
To the Adams Express Company-Clevt and,
Akron u Columbus railroad, West Pennsylvania
railroad, Philadelphia Erie railrOad, Pitts
burg, Bradford g. Buffalo railroad Erie & Pitts
burg railroad, Cleveland & Pittsburg railroad,
Ashtabula & Pittsburg railroad, Allegheny Val
ley railroad.
To the American eOmpanv-BuffalON New York
q PhilndephiH railrond 5henango a. Allegheny
railroad, Wheeling 81 Lake Erie railroad, Cleve-
land, Tusearawas Valley & Wheeling ra trOad,
Vslley railroad; Connection Valley railroad. Dun
kirk e. PitJsbuFg railroad, Pittsburg & Lake Erie
railroad, Pttsburg IL Western railroad.
Tho American also receives from the United
States Company the Toledo, Delnhos & St. IGlis
fQt1rnnn N tha limit cd Efuf Ia
line from Hamilton, o., to Richmond, Ind.
All OF these changes take effect on June 1.
1t will he seen by this that tho express map
has been pretty generally torn up. bat the stock
holders are no doubt gleeful over the cessation
OF q war that was expensive to both the Partioi-
pants and rather demOralizug to the innocent
tUoker-On, the American company.