The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-13

To give a history of the transfer bust
ness in Richmond since the war is to
sketch the history Of Major A. ". CARRIER,
who started the first baggage and passen-
ger eynress in Richmond after the war
closed Indeed, Major CARRIER had been IN
the transfer business before he came 10
Richmond He had been transferring can
mons from one place to another IN Trying
to drive the enemy from Virginia SOIL
He was captain of artillery After Lee
surrender Major CARRIER took an artillery
YnuIe To r.hict he was entitled. and came
home He sold the mule for S1S5 in silver,
and that was his capital in business. How
ever he formed an association with Col.
NJ G. Harmon, of Rockbrldge, and Col.
Harmon set him up in Richmond as man
aeer of CAREERS Passenger and Baggage
Express.
THE START.
Major CARRIER came here on August -,
1865. At that time the Fredericksburg road
had its depot at Eighth and Broad, the
trains running to that point and no fur-
Their Garber's Passenger and Baggage
Express conveyed the. passengers ana paS-
gage of the road from the Broad-Street
depot across Kings Bridge to Manchester,
where connection was made with the ROAD
to Petersburg and the South. Sometimes
the trains from the North were late, and
missing COllllccLlOii. tAic t'si7.7SAASSAtS
have to stop over in Richmond
DISTRIBUTED THE GUESTS.
It was then Major CAREERS privilege TO
haul them to some Richmond hotel for
accommodate ton. He says that he nrst pc
gan to take them to the old PoWhatan
House. on Broad Street, but there was
complaint from the other hotels, and many
it was agreed that he would give eacn
CITY hotel weeks business by turn. 1t
~.
ton continued the baggage and express
business in Richmond was very prohtabe-
But all good things come to an END. ana IN
1870 the connection track was built GOWN
to the Byrd-Street depot, and Garner 5
pa ssenger and Baggage Express was With
out an occupation But in the mean tiii'e
Richmond had grown and prospered' anu
there was still profit in moving passengers
and ba gage in the city. The business grew
10 be SO large that In 1882 the Richmond
Transfer Company was organized, with
Major Garber7as president. That company
is still an institution in Richmond, but
Major CARRIER withdrew some time ago
and went into the transfer business on his
own account.
THE TRANSFER MEN.
In connection with the transfer business
the Richmond Transfer Company has also
acted as ticket agent for a number of rail-
roads CAPTAIN ]. c. Dame. now of the
rtesapeake and Ohio, sold tickets for the
company for a number Of years and. was
succeeded by Mr.. 7. S. Armistead Mr.
Armistaad was succeeded by Mr.. Charles
Lorraine. and Mr. Lorraine by, Mr.. w. Z.
Darden. who now holds the position.
Mr.. w NJ Prentiss was for many years
solicitor of baggage for the Richmond
Transfer Company, and is now with
Major CARRIER Mr.. Albert Granger is an
other well-known solicitor, and IS now with
the Richmond Transfer Company. Other
names familiar in this connection are II. 9.
Harmon and j. NJ. Maynes.
The handling of trunks In Richmond IS a
bia business. and it is roughly estimated
that at least 4OCG0 trunks a. year are
transferred to and from the depots.