The men most active in the new field at this time were William F. Harnden, William R Dunsmore, Henry Wells, Edward P. Sanford, Samuel M. Shoemaker, Johnston Livingston, and William G. Fargo.
Almost all of the western transportation was carried on over the Ohio, Mississippi and Mis souri rivers, with their tributaries, which in cluded canals then recently completed in several of the States to connect those rivers with the lakes.
From 1840 the construction of railroads con tinued uninterruptedly, express business ex panding in proportion. Then came the inaugu ration of express (continuous • enabling goods to be carried quickly between many points without transfers.
At this period people sent their letters by express as being safer than the government's mail service. In course of time the authorities at Washington protested, and finally prohibited by law the private conveyance, without United States contract, of private letters.
1848. The stampede of gold-seekers, 1848 49, to California, brought out a great extension of the express system. Money and gold-dust were transmitted direct from the coast to east ern points through the express companies, many new agencies being established for the purpose.
1854. In this year a consolidation of express interests took place. "Adams & Co." bought up Harnden's business and worked several minor Eastern routes and secured the right to much Southern traffic.
During the same year the "American Ex press Co." first established in 1841 was formally organized, to operate from the East to the Far West.
The "United States" express also came into existence in 1854 to operate along the New York and Erie Railroad and the route running westward.
1854-55. About this time "Wells, Fargo & Co." were organized. They started the famous "Pony Express" and several stage lines Other firms competed in these special forms of rapid transportation.
1855. The "National' Express Company be gan operations in this year, with routes between New York, Albany, Troy, Saratoga, Whitehall, Rutland and Montreal.
1858. Wells, Fargo and Company and the Pony Express lines organized the "Overland Mail Co.," which, until the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad, carried the whole of the United States mails between the Missouri River and the Pacific Coast. By this time the
express had become a recognized necessity in the commercial and individual transactions of the country. Its lines had amplified in every direction. It had attracted to itself sufficient capital to place it on a firm financial basis. Obligations to ensure the safe and speedy transmission of merchandise, valuables and money were readily assumed. When loss or damage occurred, due reparation was promptly made. Thieves were and are, to-day, followed up by them until caught and punished.
1861. Henry S. Plant and associates organ ized the Express Co.," which operated principally in the Southern States.
1861-65. Upon the breaking cut of hostilities, the express was the only means of communica tion between soldiers in the field and their friends at home. Government securities, being purchased largely by the people, were sent by government through the express, it being offi cially recognized that, during that critical period, the express was much safer than the official mail service.
After the war a contract was made by the United States government with the Adams Ex press Company, acting for itself and other companies, to transmit all securities and moneys of the government by express.
1865-1918. This period represents a phe nomenal growth of the express movement. The present organization of the great companies, each with experience of over half a century to guide it, is practically perfect in its workings, and labors continuously at high tension to keep even pace with calls which increase day by day.
The establishment of the parcel post in 1913 and its subsequent extension to larger packages had marked effect on the business of the ex press companies. A scaling down of rates by the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1914 seemed likely to affect the financial condition of the companies. The United States Express Company retired from business on 30 June 1914. But the later years have witnessed but little diminution of the bulk of the traffic and the profits. For valuable packages and for promptness in transmission and delivery the express company is an unequalled public utility.