Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1918 — First Express Company. [ARTICLE]

First Express Company.

The first express company In America was launched 79 years ago, when an advertisement appeared in the Boston and New York papers announcing that “William F. Harnden has made arrangements with the Providence railroad and the New York Boat company to run a car through from Boston to New York and vice versa four times weekly. He will accompany the ear himself, take care of all small packages that may be Intrusted to his care and -*see them safely delivered.” Today Harnden might be prosecuted for publishing a misleading advertisement, for his “express car” was entirely Imaginary, and he carried parcels In a valise. Harnden had long l>een a conductor on the railway, and Ws former associates permitted him to travel without charge, The railroad got nothing in the way of express charges. Harnden’s first competitor ■was Alvin Adams, who became the founder of the Adams Express company.