In the tradition of the Great
Western States
TeamWest shares the
pioneering spirit of
survival, tenacity,
resourcefulness,
legendary courage,
challenge and honor!
Introducing
Our PonyExpress
Ranked among the most
remarkable feats to come out of the 1860 American West, the Pony
Express was in service from April 1860 to November 1861. Its
primary mission was to deliver mail and news between St. Joseph,
Missouri, and San Francisco, California.
Its Origins and
History -
Purpose:
To provide the fastest mail delivery between St. Joseph,
Missouri, and Sacramento, California. To draw public attention to
the central route in hope of gaining the million dollar
government mail contract for the Central Overland California and
Pikes Peak Express Company.
Date:
April 3, 1860, to late
October 1861.
Mechanics:
Relay of mail by horses and
riders. The Pony Express ran day and night, summer and winter.
Riders:
183 men are known to have
ridden for the Pony Express during its operation of just over 18
months.
One of the riders
was Broncho Charlie.
Rider
Qualifications: Ad in
California newspaper read: "Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry
fellows. Not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing to risk
death daily. Orphans preferred." Most riders were around 20.
Youngest was 11. Oldest was mid-40s. Not many were orphans.
Usually weighed around 120 pounds.
Riders
Pay $100 per month.
First
Riders Johnny Fry was first
westbound rider from St. Joseph. Billy Hamilton was first
eastbound driver from Sacramento.
Rider
Relay: New riders took over
every 75 to 100 miles.
Horse
Relay: Riders got a fresh
horse every 10 to 15 miles.
Speed:
Horses traveled an average of
10 miles per hour.
Horses:
400 horses purchased to stock
the Pony Express route. Thoroughbreds, mustangs, pintos, and
Morgans were often used.
Stations:
Approximately 165 stations.
Trail
Length: Almost 2,000 miles.
Route:
St. Joseph, Missouri to
Sacramento, California. Through the present day states of Kansas,
Nebraska, northeast corner of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada,
and California.
Departure:
Once a week from April 3 to
mid-June 1860. Twice a week from mid-June, to late October 1861.
Departures were from both the east and the west.
Schedule:
10 days in summer. 12 to 16
days in winter.
Fastest
Delivery: 7 days and 17 hours
between telegraph lines. Lincoln's Inaugural Address.
Longest
Drive: Pony Bob Haslam rode
370 miles (Friday's Station to Smith Creek and back. This is in
present-day Nevada.)
Cost
of Mail: $5.00 per 1/2 ounce
at the beginning. By the end of the Pony Express, the price had
dropped to $1.00 per 1/2 ounce.
Founders:
William Russell, Alexander
Majors, and William Waddell. The company was the Central Overland
California and Pikes Peak Express Company. The Pony Express was a
subsidiary of the famous freight and stage company.
Other
Mail Routes: Water route from
New York to San Francisco and across Panama by pack mule.
Southern or Butterfield route from St. Louis and Memphis to El
Paso to Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Telegraph
Completed: October 24, 1861.
Official end of the Pony Express.
Failures:
Financially, the owners spent
$700,000 on the Pony Express and had a $200,000 deficit. The
company failed to get the million dollar government contract
because of political pressures and the outbreak of the Civil War.
Successes:
Improved communication
between east and west. Proved the central route could be traveled
all winter. Supported the central route for the transcontinental
railroad. Kept communication open to California at the beginning
of the Civil War. Provided the fastest communication between east
and west until the telegraph. Captured the hearts and the
imagination of people all over the world.
Folklore:
One mochila lost and one
rider killed. Location, date and names have not been verified.
Suggested
reading:
Benson, Joseph: The Traveler's Guide to Pony Express
Helena, Montana: Falcon Press, 1995
Beggs, W.S. and Nathan, M.C.: The Pony Express,
Collector's Handbook no. 15
New York: Theodore E. Steinway Memorial Publication Fund, 1962
Dunlop, Richard: Great Trails of the West, Nashville
Abingdon Press, 1971
Loving, Mabel: The Pony Express Rides On, St.Joseph
Missouri: Roibidoux Printing Co., 1961
Courtesy the staff at the Pony Express National Memorial and the
St. Joseph Museum.
MOVIES
made on the subject (Hollywood style):
