The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-14
D. S EXPRESS
surance company. vas appointed 10
UNDERTAKE the work OF dissolution
Means Not Disclosed

suranee company. vas appointed 10
undertake the work OF dissolufion-
Means Not Disclosed
The precise means TO BE- adopted
Tor realizing on the company's assets
we're not disclosed. but n IL thought
likely that a syndicate win be formed
10 take them over 50 that they may
be disposed OF TO the best advantage.
There have been various estimates
OF the companys assets. but persons
familiar with their value declare thai
the return 10 the shareholders will BE-
between $50 and 500 a share. There
IL considerable real estate OF value, as
well az costly equipment and out
standing contracts with railroads
which. IL Il expected. will be trans
pront.
Tn. step taken by the directors to-
day was f~oreshadowed . few weeks
ago. when the stock. which had sold
down 70 81 last December. suddenly
rose on very large dealings from IS
70 -. Its price last Wednesday, and
wall street was soon of the opinion.
ers,p,o,se osneiai denlais. that disinte-
The success of the parcel post and
the recent order of the Interstate
commerce commission. resulting In a
sixteen per cent reduction in express
charges. are held directly responsible
ARaAI IttlLEmtuL IEOm
business after sixty years OF contin.
nous operation over some OF the lead
Ing railroads OF the country.
Earnings Show Dealings.
Earnings OF the COMPANY for the
nve months of the fiscal year 40 far
rePorted showed steady declines. with
iday business a fairly large. but
earnings continued % dwindle until
some OF the more influential interests
outspoken for LIQUIDATION.
late Thomas c.. Platt and his
iamily were for years the dominant
interests In United States Express.
In fact, their control was SO comniefe
tnat they succeeded in wardine on
numerous demands and protests on
the III OF The minority interests and
Ior many years practically nothing
known by the public OF the an.
,sirs OF the company. no meeting Of
oyer stVexnoiders having been held in
There are outstanding 100. 900
snares OF United States Express
JOCK and these are In comparatively
Few n The Hartman estate Is
oeileved TO hold over one-ffth of the
wnole. which the a +. II. Hartman
seIulred from the American and
before his death. at an outlay of about
s~z.z5O.OOO. The interests OF the plat
family, two OF whom Continued 70 he
quite active In the ~
tne company. are said TO be relatively
Fargo May Get Contracts.
express company al one time
had contracts covering rs o d miles
Win some OF the leading railways OF
.ne In part these contracts
nave expired. but the remaining ones
Z SAID TO be of potential value and
Is assumed that they will be trans.
re,reu 70 one or the company's former
90 company. In which the Hartman
interests have large holdings.
President Robert. Talks.
YORK, Mar. I'D. /. Rob.
It's. president OF the United States
xpres Company. in a statement TO-
night, said the action OF the diract-
ors was not a threat or a bid for
government sympathy. but simpIv
ma, tne, company could not continue
IN Justice TO the stockholders. more.
IMAM half OF whom are women.
The company was not confronted
tion." Mr.. Roberts said. "Is the gon-
eminent had been satisfied with The
parcel post as il was first inausn.
rated. n IL We were not confro1t-
ed by another condition ty the action
OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion In putting into effect on Febrna.
~ 1. this year, OF severe cuts In ex.
press rates. we could have gone along
All right. The action of the Interstate
Commission was a severe
blow TO the company. and when we
were confronted with a further thraa,
on the part OF the government of fur-
tner reductions in parcel post rates
and further Increase in weights of
parcels they would carry. il got 70
me point where for us to continue in
the express business was Impossible :"