EXPRESS SERVICE. A transportation system for parcels which require a safer and quicker delivery than can be had through the common freight service.
The creation and development of express service in the United States and the extension of the American express system, under Ameri can control, throughout the length and breadth of the civilized world and beyond, affords con vincing proof of unique constructive and ad ministrative genius along the lines of greatest utility to mankind.
One of the most prominent, succesful and progressive express companies, now operat ing on. every continent, began some 70 years ago with a simple service for delivery of pack ages between a few Eastern and Western points. To-day, the same organization has, in addition to traffic in the United States, British North America and the Latin-American republics, at least a dozen agencies with commodious quarters on leading thoroughfares in principal European cities, each fully equipped with men, wagons and horses for the most rapid and effective express service.
As part of its routine business, the company is in touch with .30 of the world's largest banking institutions and has shipping and bank ing correspondents at all large cities and ports in both hemispheres. As a means of comparsion with express conditions of half a century ago, when the system was merely an adjunct to the railroads, a brief outline of the work now being carried on in progressive express com panies will be of interest. Since the express plan first began, in 1838, the relations of the railroads toward the express companies have, by mutual consent and to meet ever growing demands, been reversed. The rail roads, in their own interests, so far as carriage of express freight is concerned, are now ad juncts of the express companies.
The most modern American express serv ice, when conducted on a large scale, is con ducted under five divisions: (1) The transporta tion of merchandise; (2) transfer of money, precious stones and other valuables, securities, etc.; (3) and selling merchandise; (4) forwarding of imports and exports; (5) issuance of money orders, letters of credit, travelers' checks and the transmission of money by telegraph.
The echeckS system has been so perfected that travelers in foreign countries save time and avoid delay by their use, as they are promptly recognized and cheerfully cashed or accepted by the principal hotels, steamship and sleeping car companies, by many railroad companies and by merchants, shopkeepers and others, in settle ment of accounts. They are issued in the denominations $10, $20, $50, $100 and $200.
For those traveling in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, these checks afford the advantages of a secure and convenient means of carrying funds imme diately available, combined with the avoidance of the risk of loss of money by fire or destruc tion and of annoyance of negotiating personal checks in places where such may be unaccept able. Being cashed by agents of the companies and by banks in all the principal cities and pleasure resorts of the United States, the Canadas, Mexico, Cuba, Central and South America, accepted in payment of fares by the principal steamship companies and many railroad companies throughout the United States and received as cash by agents and con ductors of the Pullman Palace Car Company and by many hotels in settlement of account, travelers' checks are found to be a most satis factory form of credit for use during a tour.
*Letters of Credit)" now form a usual ex press office specialty. These documents are drawn in sterling and are available in all parts of the world. Through the Letters of Credit system, checks may be obtained from ex press agencies at all important points. Every foreign express correspondent has a cable address, also every express agency.
The 0. D.° system and bank, of ac count collection are among the useful develop ments of express service. °C. 0. D.° shipments are subject to collection of bill or invoice for the goods, with prompt return of proceeds made at a small charge for such service. C. 0. D. shipments to foreign countries are usually made under the same system as applies to domestic points.