shipment referred to, you would have received a notice by mail from the agent of the express company at Cumberland, Me., notifying you that shipment made by you, and received a certain date, was still "On Hand" at that place, and party to whom shipment was sent "is unknown." This notice, when received by you, would have assisted you to readily discover your mistake, and, by endorsing your instructions on the notice received, and then sending same to the express agent at the office from which shipment was forwarded, you could have adjusted the matter with the least possible delay.

Another cause for the missending of shipments is owing to the fact that there are many cities and towns of the same name in different states. It is of the utmost importance that great care be exercised by shippers in the marking the address on shipments correctly. In connection with this matter, the following will serve to emphasize the importance of the above:

One of the large concerns in Providence, R. I., shipped a box to a customer in Newport, R. I. In the course of a few days after the shipment had been forwarded, the customer telephoned that goods had not been received. A request to the express company for a "trace" was immediately preferred by the shipper. The result of this "trace" disclosed the fact that the shipment was duly "billed" by the express company to Newport, R. I., but "checked" out "Short" at that office. From these facts the express company assumed that the shipment had been stolen while in "transit." Description of the contents of the box and photographs of the goods were given to the express company by the shipper, in order to assist them in locating the missing articles. The shipment being an important one, the shipper filled the order a second time, entering claim with the express company for the amount of the order.

About a month later the original shipment was located by the express company in Newport, Ky. It appears that the marking on the cover of the box was blurred in such a manner

that the "R. I." had been taken for "KY." In forwarding from Providence the shipment was loaded in the wrong car, being placed in a "South & West" in place of the "Local." Consequently the box turned up "Astray," finally landing in Newport, Ky. The shipment being returned to the shipper, under the circumstances, the "claim" was cancelled forthwith. An idea of the trouble caused by this trifling circumstance may be duly imagined, clearly demonstrating the importance of correctly and plainly marking shipments.

Shippers upon making request for "trace" to the express company to show disposition of matter sent by express, same having been reported to the shipper as not received by the "consignee" at destination, naturally look and expect to receive prompt replies to their requests, and, if not received, become annoyed and vexed at, what appears to them, the unnecessary delay. We feel that if the complainant could devote one hour of his time with the clerk of an express company whose duty it is to handle this particular branch of the business, the writer feels assured that the complainant would be willing to agree that the trouble is not wholly the fault of the express company. The shipper in many instances presents his request for a "trace" in such a manner that it is impossible for the "trace" clerk to understand what is wanted, or how to proceed in the matter without further information. This fact, of course, entails delay at the start.

Here is a specimen of the request referred to:

"Last month I sent a package to one of my customers in Boston, it has not been received please put urgent trace on same, and show what disposition was made of package or send check to balance."

The reader will see that the express company when it receives a request similar to the above has absolutely nothing to work from. No name or date being given, it will be impossible for the express company to accomplish much in the way of a "trace."

The express companies realize that the tracing of shipments which have failed to reach destination is a preëminently important feature of the express business. In order that many of the complications which arise and the vexatious delays which occur in connection with express "tracers" may be in a measure avoided, the following suggestions are respectfully submitted:

Always enclose with your request for a "trace" an exact "copy" of the receipt issued by the express company when the shipment referred to was forwarded. Be careful that the date is correct; this is of the utmost importance, and will save you time in the "trace" of the shipment, and the express company a lot of trouble in locating the billing for your shipment. State on the copy of your receipt the local address, if any, of the party to whom the goods were shipped. If the shipment was in the care of any other person or firm, give the name of such party or parties.

In case the article in "trace" is a casting or other article, the marks from which may have been torn or rubbed off, send a description of the article, and, if possible, enclose a drawing or sketch, in order to assist in the identification.

If the "trace" refers to an important shipment, one which shipper wishes delivered at the earliest moment possible, a request for a "wire tracer" should be given the express company. This will facilitate the delivery of your shipment, and the expense attached to this form of "tracer" will be collected from the shipper. We feel that if these suggestions are followed by shippers when presenting requests to the express company for "tracing" their shipments, they will materially assist in expediting the "trace," securing for them more prompt

returns.

PART II.

History and Sketches.

The information regarding the origin of the express business is gathered from Tucker's Waifs from the Way Bills, 1877, and Stimson's Erpress History, 1882.

The stage driver in "ye olden time" was a very important personage. In addition to the care of his passengers, there was intrusted to him the charge of various packages, valuable and otherwise, and which he was delegated to deliver safely.

While in his time the mystic letters "C. O. D." did not adorn the wrappers of the packages, bills were collected on delivery nevertheless. "No pay, no take' was a matter of business then as now.