Transp. HE 5896 .s86 1881

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-one, by

A. L. STIMSON,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

Befication.

To THE RAILROAD COMPANIES

AND

THE EXPRESS SERVICE

IN AMERICA,

THIS HISTORY OF THE EXPRESS BUSINESS

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

BY THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY.

PART I.-1839 TO 1860.

CHAPTER I.

The Introduction of the Railway System in America.-Orig-

inal Railroad Charters.-The Exit of the Mail Stage

Service, and the Inception of the Express by Harnden

CHAPTER II.

William Frederick Harnden.-His Express Enterprise.-Its

Operations between Boston and New York.-Its Exten-

sion, Success and Outcome.-Henry Wells his Agent.

CHAPTER III.

The Adams Express.-Alvin Adams, Its Founder.-Opera-

tions in New England, New York, and South.-Sanford

and Shoemaker.

CHAPTER IV.

The Pioneers of the American Express.-Geo. Pomeroy,

Henry Wells, the Livingstons, Fargos and Butterfield.

-Westward Ho !

CHAPTER V.

Origin of the National Express; Thompson & Co.; Wells,

Fargo & Co. and Others

PAGE

11

13

38

51

60

69

CHAPTER VI.

The United States Express.-The N. Y. & Erie Experiment.

-The Howards.-Leonard, Fiske, Cheney and Others.

-Studley's Baggage Express System.-Close of the

First 21 Years' History of Express Service

PAGE

78

PART II.-1860 TO 1880.

CHAPTER I.

The American and Other Expresses in New England

CHAPTER II.

The Adams and the Local Expresses in the Eastern States.—

Wells, Fargo & Co.-The Express a Specialty

CHAPTER III.

From Boston to New York by Long Island Sound--One of

the Adams' Routes.-The Adams in New York City

CHAPTER IV.

The American in New York.-An Express War.-The M.

U. Ex. and What Became of it

CHAPTER V.

The United States; the National; the Southeru; New Jer-

sey; Central; Union, etc.

CHAPTER VI.

Operations of the Adams, its Auxiliaries, and Other Com-

panies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

CHAPTER VII.

The Adams in Maryland and Virginia.—The Baltimore Di-

vision and its Superintendent