Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-04-06
EXPRESS BUSINESS
IN DANVILLE

The removal of Adams Express office
into separate quarters, which will take
place early this week, has turned the
thoughts of many of our older resi-
dents back to time when the express
business here was on altogether diff
terent footing. In conversation Satur-
day Robert Adams, who was connected
with the express office here for forty
three years, gave an interesting descrip-
tion of the beginning of express bust
ness in Danville, of its development
and the various changes that have af
fected it.
f. w. Conkling was the pioneer Of
the express business in Danville. The
first express company to do business
here was Howard & Co. In 1854 when
the Catawissa railroad was completed
as far as Catawissa Mr.. Conkling ran
a wagon from Catawissa to Danville
daily. When the railroad was finished
as far as Danville the express business
here properly commenced, Mr.. Conkl-
ing being the agent of Howard 81 Co.
A couple of years later the Interna-
tional Express Co. secured exclusive
privileges for its business on the Cata-
wissa railroad. Howard g. Co. then
retired but did not leave the road.
They continued paying railroad fare
of messenger daily, who used carpet
bag carrying small packages and mon
ey. Howard & Co. took the case to
the courts and received a decision set
ting forth that common carriers must
give equal facilities to all as far as
| they are able.
In consequence Of this decision How
ard & Co. again went on the railroad,
the two express companies occupying
it together. This did not continue
long, the International giving up the
| contest and retiring.
After few years Howard q Co.
was merged into the Central express
The latter company also did the ex-
press business ON the Lackawanna 81
Bloomsbury railroad, but withdrew
from the latter road after it was acquir-
ed by the Delaware, Lackawanna 81
Western company, which did its own
express business for time. Eventual
ly discovering as other railroads in
the East have done that the express
business is more satisfactorily carried
ON by an outside corporation, the d.
L. & W. Co. gave the United States
Express Co. the privileges.
About 1871 the Sunbury & Hazleton
railroad was completed and the Cent
raj Express Co. secured the express
privileges over it, which company was
merged with Adams 81 Co. express that
continues to occupy said road. Adams
& Co. succeeded the Central on the
Catawissa railroad After the latter
road was controlled by the P. e. r.
railway company Adams & Co. held
privileges until the P. & R. people
organized their own express company.
In 1887 Adams & Co. purchased the
express business from the p. & r. rail
way company and operated on said
road for about two years. Then find
ing that the business could be reached
at nearly all important points by the
Pennsylvania railroad Adams & Co.
threw up the contract with the Read
ing and have since done all their bust
ness here over the Pennsylvania rail
road.
Mr.. Conkling continued to be agent
here up to the time of his death in
1887, at which time Robert Adams was
appointed agent of Adams g. Co. ex-
press. Mr.. Adams, who was connect
ed with the business from its inception
continued as agent until 1897, when he
resigned and A. H. Grone was ap-
pointed agent. Mr.. Grone continued
in charge of Adams & Company's bust
ness up to the present. AS previously
stated he will be succeeded by William
M. Sechler, after the office is remov-
ed.
The express business in the early
days was something entirely different
from what we are accustomed to at
present. Said Mr.. Adams:
"At the time the Catawissa railroad
was started there were no fast freights.
Freight trains as a rule were very
irregular, sometimes not arriving from
Philadelphia oftener than twice
week. In consequence great deal of
heavy freight was shipped by express.
I recall one time when Waterman &
Beaver, who owned the company store
and an individual known as Cheap
John, who conducted a store, got into
a rivalry in the sale of blankets; at
that time it was no unusual thing to
unload half a car load of big boxes
sent by express. An extensive business
was done during the war of the rebel
lion, not only in sending boxes to the
hundreds of boys in the army, but also
in shipping goods to George McAlpin.
sutler, who received great quantities
of provisions from Neal Mccoy of
Jerseytown.