By 1890, moreover, the express companies had developed and at the
present time are performing certain functions which are secondary to or
even independent of the express business proper. These functions for
the greater part parallel at the present time similar functions
performed by the national government or by other agencies. These adjunct
and independent functions are:
1--The issue of money orders, letters of credit, travelers' checks,
etc., payable through express company agents and correspondents over
well-nigh the entire civilized world.
2--The purchase for customers of goods in any locality in which an
express office is located.
3--The sale for their customers of goods in any locality in which an
express is located.
4--Miscellaneous services, such as filing legal documents, redeeming
pawned articles, selling exchange, entering and clearing articles of
import and export at customs houses, paying bills, and, in short,
attending to any business which can be readily performed by an agent for
a customer.