Posted on Texas Civilian Yahoo list September 2008 by Vicki Betts.
Well, I've now been through the 1860 Texas Almanac. The *only* express company mentioned is:
Jones Express.
Express Forwarders between Richmond, Hempstead, and New-Orleans, via Houston and Galveston.
Offices and Agents.
Richmond, Henry Kyle; Hempstead, Stage Agent; Houston, Post-Office Building; Galveston, Strand, S. S. Jones; Indianola, A Frome & Co.; New-Orleans, 96 Camp Street, H. Q. Jones.
Each Express in charge of special messengers, provided with strong Fire and Thief Proof Safes, for the better security of valuables.
Parties from the interior desiring to transact business, through the medium of this Express, will receive prompt attention, and the goods sent by return Express.
Goods to be forwarded by Express will be called for, without extra charge.
Starr S. Jones, Manager.
I've also seen freight mentioned on steamships and the dinky Texas railroads, but no mention of freight on stagecoaches. But they MUST have been used. What else was there beyond the coast and the ends of the railroads? Note the locations listed for Jones Express--on the coast and/or on the rail line. But look at Hempstead--the Express Company worked out of the stage office. No prices per pound, alas, although I did find a price per pound for freight on the train.
From the Handbook of Texas
Butterfield Overland Mail
..."The postage rate of ten cents per half ounce resulted in receipts in 1860 of $119,766.77."
Stagecoach Lines
..."Stagecoach operations in Texas, as in other states, were closely tied to government mail contracts. These contracts provided the solid financial base that also allowed stage companies to transport passengers and freight. Stagecoach routes provided a nineteenth-century network making travel or mail delivery possible to all communities."
This link is to a search at the National Postal Museum in DC. In their collection they have all sorts of stuff. Under this link
http://www.arago.si.edu. Cool site.
Well, I've now been through the 1860 Texas Almanac. The *only* express company mentioned is:
Jones Express.
Express Forwarders between Richmond, Hempstead, and New-Orleans, via Houston and Galveston.
Offices and Agents.
Richmond, Henry Kyle; Hempstead, Stage Agent; Houston, Post-Office Building; Galveston, Strand, S. S. Jones; Indianola, A Frome & Co.; New-Orleans, 96 Camp Street, H. Q. Jones.
Each Express in charge of special messengers, provided with strong Fire and Thief Proof Safes, for the better security of valuables.
Parties from the interior desiring to transact business, through the medium of this Express, will receive prompt attention, and the goods sent by return Express.
Goods to be forwarded by Express will be called for, without extra charge.
Starr S. Jones, Manager.
I've also seen freight mentioned on steamships and the dinky Texas railroads, but no mention of freight on stagecoaches. But they MUST have been used. What else was there beyond the coast and the ends of the railroads? Note the locations listed for Jones Express--on the coast and/or on the rail line. But look at Hempstead--the Express Company worked out of the stage office. No prices per pound, alas, although I did find a price per pound for freight on the train.
From the Handbook of Texas
Butterfield Overland Mail
..."The postage rate of ten cents per half ounce resulted in receipts in 1860 of $119,766.77."
Stagecoach Lines
..."Stagecoach operations in Texas, as in other states, were closely tied to government mail contracts. These contracts provided the solid financial base that also allowed stage companies to transport passengers and freight. Stagecoach routes provided a nineteenth-century network making travel or mail delivery possible to all communities."
This link is to a search at the National Postal Museum in DC. In their collection they have all sorts of stuff. Under this link
http://www.arago.si.edu. Cool site.
