Express Companies

Among the most important mercantile facilities which have been developed by the business of the country are the several express companies. The first to engage in the express business in Detroit was Charles H. Miller. The following notice from a paper of February, 1844, shows that he soon found a competitor:

MILLER'S EXPRESS.-- We regret to learn that Pomeroy & Company have extended their Express Line to this city. Not that we entertain any hostile feeling to them, but because we believe injustice is done to Mr. Chas. H. Miller.

The Pomeroy Express was first established at Albany, New York, by George E. Pomeroy in 1841, and in 1844 an office was opened in Detroit in C. Morse's bookstore on the north side of Jefferson Avenue, just west of Bates Street. About 1845 the name was changed to Wells Company's Express, and soon after the Detroit office was moved to the basement of the F. & M. Bank on Jefferson Avenue. In 1850 the company was reorganized under the name of the American Express Company, and that year the office was located at 106 Jefferson Avenue, three doors below the Michigan Exchange. On May 20, 1862, the office was moved to the Waverly Block, opposite the Michigan Exchange. From here, on May 1, 1865, it was moved to the old Rotunda on Griswold Street, and on August 1, 1879, to the Moffat Building.

The success of the several express companies caused the organization of a rival company, the Merchants' Union. It numbered several Detroit merchants among its stockholders, and its office here was first opened on October 4, 1866, at 221 Jefferson Avenue. C. J. Petty was agent. On

December 1, 1868, the company was consolidated with the American Express Company under the title of the American Merchants' Express Company. On February 1, 1873, the word "Merchants'" was dropped. In 1880 the American Express Company had about fifty employees in Detroit, the monthly pay-roll footed up $2,500, and the company employed twenty-two horses, using four double and ten single wagons.

On March 14, 1882, the express companies' system of money orders was introduced in Detroit. The plan is similar to that of the post-office orders. Sums of from one dollar to five dollars can be obtained for a fee of five cents, and orders for amounts between five dollars and ten dollars for eight cents.

The following agents have had charge of the Detroit office: 1842-1844, Daniel Dunning; 1845, John C. Noble; 1846, W. G. Fargo; 1846-1855, John C. Fargo; 1855-1867, Charles Fargo; 1867-1868, A. Antisdel; 1869, C. J. Petty; 1870, W. A. Gray; 1871, Merritt Seely; 1872-1876, T. B. Fargo; 1876 to December, 1881, Merritt Seely; from December, 1881, C. F. Reed. Division Superintendents: 1855-1867, Charles Fargo; 1867, A. H. Walcott; 1868, J. L.Turnbull; 1869-1871, J. H. Arnett; from 1871, J. S. Hubbard.

The United States Express Company was established at Detroit in 1857. Its first office was at 112 Jefferson Avenue, next to the Michigan Exchange. From here it was moved to the Rotunda on May 1,

1865, and on September 1, 1879, to the Colburn Block on Congress Street East, between Woodward Avenue and Bates Street. In 1880 it employed twelve persons, and the pay-roll was $621.50 per month. Six horses and four wagons were used." The agents have been: 1857, W. H. Ashley; 1858-

1866, C. J. Petty; from August 18, 1866, F. H. Cone.

In October, 1872, a distemper prevailed among the horses at Detroit, as well as all over the North, and the last week in October both express companies delivered and collected goods in ordinary handcarts.

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