An express company is a business developed in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

which provides for the speedy transmission of parcels or merchandise of any kind and their safe delivery in good condition. “ Collect on delivery” service is also featured, the express company making the collecting and forwarding “returns” to the shipper.

Money orders A money order is a directive to pay a pre-specified amount of money from prepaid funds, making it a more trusted method of payment than a cheque. History Systems similar to modern money orders can be traced back centuries. Paper documents known ...

also are issued, payable at any of the numerous offices throughout the United States.

History

Express service had its beginnings in the trip made from

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

by William F. Harnden (1813-45), the first “express-package carrier,” on March 4, 1839. The plan recommending itself to businessmen, competing companies sprang up rapidly, and express lines were established in all directions. Adams & Company's California express was started in 1849;

Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with a significant global presence. The company operates in 35 countries and serves over 70 million customers worldwide. It is a systemically important fi ...

& Company's in 1852; the American-European Company in 1855. As railroads extended, the early “

pony express The Pony Express was an American express mail service that used relays of horse-mounted riders between Missouri and California. It was operated by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company. During its 18 months of opera ...

” disappeared, and individual companies made contracts with the railroad companies, their business over these routes being held to be entitled to the protection of the courts against any efforts to dispossess them. Many of the rival companies united, and now are joint-stock institutions, employing capital amounting to over $50,000,000.

References

* * {{Cite NIE, wstitle=Express, short=x Business services companies of the United States

History

Further reading

References