New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-30
ODD WORK FOR EXPRESsMEN
GREAT VARIETY OF SERVICES DOME
BY THE LARGE COMPANIES.
BESIDES SENDING MONEY THEY PAX BILIS
BCT GOODS RESCUE THINGS IN PAWN

wholly in the carry ing and delivery OF merchan-
ciSe from one part of the country to another
Upon stopping to consider more carefully II
would probably occur tc the minds of these peo-
PIE that the express companies handle large sums
OF money as well, this fact being broght to light
upon the occasion Of every Zig railroad "hold-up-
"hen these ;wo things have been mentioned the
sum of the general knowledge OF the subject
seems to have been reached in the ma jority OF
cases. although the extent to which the less
known branches OF tho cxrress business have
now grown is a proof that people are becoming,
better informed than they were AS a matter
o. iact the transportation Of packages and money
Is ohiy the most important Of long series Of
functions which the versatile express companies
perform for their customers
suppose a man desires 10 record a deed TO nav
his taxes, or to serve legal papers in a town MANY
miles from where he lives. The express company
stands ready to do the work for him and tbus
keep the proceeding out of the hands of the law
yer whom he would naturally think of employing
IN connection with this it also collects bills
oTatts notes and even dividends and, on the other
hand makes payments CT money. in any amount.
by telegraph If man owes club dues or his
newspaper subscription in distant city. he has
only TO forward the necessary sum and reouost
inc express company to make the payment for
MN through some of the many agents whom il
N''epS pussy WIN Just such commissions. IL he has
peeh unfortunate enough on his travels TO have
ard
ne can upon arriving at his home source of sup
ply, send on the funds and have tho D.. ,-,.,,.o -
CANNED by the obliging exprcss agent Provision
II "iso made 10y the companies for even greater
'ii'ilc'ai straits which may befal their patrons
iof 'here is not little business done in the way
"a ieuee'hhs goods in pawn. This department is
usually announced strictly confidential"
when quality is calculated to recommend IL 70
those who might otherwise be rather shy about
sNalilhS themselves of its ADVANTAGES The navn
"NNe'S sent on for redemption must ALWAYS be
accompanied by the full amount due because
pawnorokers arc memorable and will not even
AT the request of the all-powerful express COM
pahles' forward pledges c. Q. d.
The purchasing and commission department NJ
the express company is an enterprise which 10
iaPioiy growing as its convenience becomes evil
uei' 10 out-ot-town people. Household supplies
GNU Soous Oh every Kind may be bought regularly
IN TINS way, and If careful directions are given
All sorts OF special commissions such as the seIcc-
tioh Oh pieces OF jeweiry, books. flowers etc. may
be accomplished with great satisfaction IA al ,ha
persons concerned. This is so much better than
'iie o!d-iashloned method of boring ores friends
with requests to attend to matters OF that sort
'hat IL ought 10 rec mmcnd itself heartily if for
this reason alone. The express companies in
carrying on this branch of their work do not IN
tend TO conflict with the local business interests
OF the smaller towns. for the articles which they
volunteer to purchase are almost always such as
cannot be procured in the homes OF their country
patrons. In fact. the suburban merchants az
well as private customers make use of this OK
press commission buying. Repairing work is also
attended to in connection with the PURCHASING
ana watches and other delicate pieces Of mn
chlnery may be sent in charge of the cynress
agents. with the assurance that the work upon
them will be properly executed
Regarding the large amounts of money which
they carry the express companies are UaturalIv
unwilling to talk with much freedom ..The Iess
that Is said about that subject the better for ne
remarked one Of the managers recently .,Train
ropDers are always on the lookout for tins from
any source, and it is our business to keen stiu
ana 90 ali we can to prevent their getting then,
Or course, every one knows that we handle n
great deal of money, both in the form of buIIion
ana or currency. 1t runs into hundreds of tbou
SANDS OF dollars in short time but even if felt
at liberty to talk should find it hard to mention
the exact amounts"
Ihere is still another important function of tho
express companies which ought to be mentioned
his is the attending to all the details incidental
10 travelling for persons who are unaccustonned
TO going on long trips alone. For instance IL n
iamlly IN chicago were expecting a friend from
Europe and wished to have all possible troub,a
spared after arriving in New-York they wou,d
simply inform the express company OF thor