Section 285. Sale of unclaimed articles by express companies; notice thereof; disposition of proceeds of sale

Every  express  company,  or
  person engaged in the express business, who shall have had any unclaimed
  article,  goods or things, not perishable, in its or his possession, for
  a period of one year at least, may proceed to sell the  same  at  public
  auction,   and   out   of   the  proceeds  may  retain  the  charges  of
  transportation and storage of such article,  goods  or  thing,  and  the
  expenses  of  advertising  and  sale  thereof; but no such sale shall be
  made, until the expiration of four weeks from the first  publication  of
  notice of such sale, in a newspaper published at or nearest the place at
  which  such article, goods or thing was directed to be left, and also at
  the place where such sale is  to  take  place;  and  said  notice  shall
  contain  a  description  of  such  article, goods or thing, the place at
  which the same was to be left, as near as may be, together with the name
  of the person to whom directed, if known, and the expenses incurred  for
  advertising  shall  be  a  lien  upon such article, goods or thing, in a
  ratable proportion, according to the value of each article,  package  or
  parcel, if more than one.
    In  case such unclaimed article, goods or thing shall in its nature be
  perishable, the same may be sold as soon as it can  be,  on  giving  the
  notice  required in this section, after its receipt at the city, town or
  village to which it was directed.