The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-15
EXPRESS COMPANIES
TO STAY IN FIELD
of the United
States Concern Is Subject
of Much Comment.
By Interna tional News Service.

By Interna tional News Service.
NEW YORK, March 14,-Wells Far
60 g. Co. and the American Express COM
pany are understood to be in the mar
ket for the business of the United
States Express company, which is to be
Hquidated.
Developments. however, have not
reached the stage where negotiations
have been opened with the United
States Express company, but overtures
arc expected to be made in the not dis
tant future.
Wells Fargo g. Co. and the American
Express company interests recognize
that the return on express business ID
very meager at present rates and there
provided the United States Express
company does not ask too high figure.
The Hartman interests, who control
the United States Express, are largely
interested in the Wells Fargo, and 1t
was recently reported that the latter
company would take over the entire
business of the former, but such move
ment is not contemplated, owing to pos
sible interference by the government.
Territory Basis.
II q deal Is made, the business Of
the United States Express company will
be distributed between the two COM
panies on territory basis.
So far as could bo learned to-
day, mono of the other large express
companies have taken up the question
of dissolution.
B. D. Caldwell, president of the
'The company has no intention Of re-
firing from the field Of express bust
ness in which 1t was the pioneer and
has been engaged the last sixty years.
GA years experience since installa-
tion of the parcel post has demonstrat-
ed that a very large number Of indi-
yiduals and firms havo built up their
business upon express service.
"We are undertaking to increase ef
ficienoy to adjust our business TO new
conditions and not only to maintain
but to enlarge the usefulness of express
through service and cooperation. "
Will Not Retire.
W, M. Barrett, president Of the
Adams Express company, said:
"The Adams Express company has
absolutely NO intention of retiring from
determine the effect Of the new law
rates, but believe that the public will
recognize that the services Of the eI-
press companies are such that they can
not be performed with equal efficiency
by any other medium, and that their
continuance is absolutely Indispensable
to the business interests Of the ooun-
try
Express companies ara anxious to
have. the railroads revise their con-
tracts, which In some instances give the
roads as much as SO per cont of the rev.
enues received by the express concerns
has already sent letters to railroads
asking them to revise their contracts.
AS the railroads are doing business
for the government at rates under
those charged the express companies,
the latter feel that no difficulty would
be experienced in having the contracts
abrogated on the ground that they have
been violated by tho railroads.
Will Be Speedy.
| D. I. Roberts, president Of the Unit
ed States Express company, discussing
the winding up of his company, said TO-
hThe dissolution win be effected rs
speedily rs Is consistent with prudence,
but In the nature Of things 1t may not
be accomplished by precipitate action.
"The public viii be duly advised as
to the date on which the express serv-
loo Will be withdrawn. Until this Is
done the company win actively solicit
and continue to handle competitive and,
In fact, all business. The public may
be assured that just claims win be
prOrn Dtly Retf1od -