The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-02
EXPRESS
CARRIERS
FURNISH
STA T|S les

Washington. d. c. Dec. 2-The Bi-
reau OF the Census has just issued a
report giving the results Of the sec
)nd census of the express business.
rne statistics presented cover the
ascal year ending June 80, 1907 tex
cspt in the case of few reports
which cover the calendar ye~v) ana
relate to those express companies
which forward freight and valuables
over some steam, electric, water or
stage line and which do business in
more than one town A brief review
of The history OF the express business
lin thN country Is followed by a state.
ment of the principal functions Of
1.-The companies and the usual form
1f their contracts with carriers
Development Since 1890.
In 1907 there were SO express com
panies as compared with IS in 1890
Only 10 OF the companies reporting IN
1890 were I'm existence under fn"
same name in 1907; the remaining 8
companies have gone OUT 81 u So
have been absorbed by other compan.
es or are operating under utaer
names.
The total express mileage has in
creased from 17i,059 miles TO 235,-
90o miles, a gain Of 35.5 per cent
3oth the mileage operated over rail
roads and that operated over water
,ines show large gains, the former
having increased from l60.l22 to 2l6,-
937. or 35.5 per Gent, and the latter
from t0,SS2 to 1876, or 63.5 per cent.
A large part Of the gain in steamboat
mileage Is attributable TO the eXten.
sion OF the express business into
Alaska. The company operating in
Alaska and between Alaska and Seat
tie was unable 10 segregate its coast
wise mileage from the ocean mileage
operated Ocean mileage Is not in
eluded in the reports Of the other
companies There has been a de-
crease from S,055 to 1,134 in the
mileage operated over stage lines,
ue TO the abandonment of such lines
rpon the construction Of railroads in
territory hitherto accessible only by
stage
Ninety-one per cent Of the total
mileage in 1907 is operated over
steam railroads, rs over steamboat
lines, nipe-tenths OF ] per cent over
clectsic roads, and flve-tenths Of
per cent over stage lines, Fourteen
companies report tae use OF electric
roads for express transportation; and
Of these, 3 operating 205.30 miles use
such roads exclusively.
The Leading Companies.
In 1907 as in 1890 the express conf
panies was dominated by the follow
ing companies: Adams, American
Pacific. Southern. United States, AMI
faIf a. nh. 1a- Of an.
toned leads IN the amount OF mileage
operated. with the American Express
Company a close second. These C
leading companies operated 92,7 per
cent OF the total mileage In 1890. and
so per cent in 1907. The decrease
n the percentage Is accounted for By
the increase IN the number, end con
equently In the mileage, OF smaller
companies and departmenisuof rail
roads. ana By the inclusion at the
present census OF mileage operated
n Alaska and Porto Rico, territories
which have been openel to the eX-
press business since 1890,
Distribution OF The Mileage Operated
IN the number OF miles covered by
express companies Texas ranks first
umong iAe states and territories. fol
lowed, In the Orier named, by iii
nois. Iowa, Ohio. Pennsylvania, New
York, and Kansas. The use Of steam
boat lines is most extensive in Alas.
ka. where water routes furnish prac-
tic6lly the only facilities for trans.
poltatiUn. IN Maine. New York.
Washington. and Michigan. tho steam
boat mileage Is also large. Electric
roads are used by the eXprCss com
! panies IN only 20 states. Seventy.
two per cent of the total mileage by
electric roa-s IS in Ohio, New York,