The following are some quick facts about the Pony Express.
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Purpose
To provide the fastest mail delivery between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. To draw public attention to the Central Route in hopes of gaining the million dollar government mail contract for the Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company. Dates April 3, 1860, to late October 1861. Mechanics Relay of mail by horses and riders. The Pony Express ran 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Riders 186 men are known to have ridden for the Pony Express during its operation of just over 18 months. Pay According to a newspaper ad in the Sacramento Daily Union, the pay for riders and stationkeepers was $50.00 per month. This amount would equal approximately $850.00 per month today. First Riders Johnny Fry was the first westbound rider out of St. Joseph. Billy Hamilton was the first eastbound rider out of Sacramento. Rider Relay A new rider took over every 75 to 100 miles. Horse Relay Horses were changed every 10 to 15 miles. Speed Horses reached an average speed of 10 miles an hour Horses Approximately 400 horses (thoroughbreds, mustangs, pintos, and Morgan) were purchased for the Pony Express. Stations There were approximately 165 stations along the route. Trail Length The trail was almost 2,000 miles long. Route St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. The route went through the present day States of Kansas, Nebraska, northeast corner of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California. Departures Mail would be sent out once a week from April 3 to mid-June 1860. Then sent out twice a week from mid-June 1860 to late October 1861. Mail would be sent from both the east and west. Deliveries Every 10 days in summer. Every 12 to 16 days in winter. Fastest Delivery The fastest delivery of mail by the Pony Express took 7 days and 17 hours. The message was Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address. The speech was telegraphed to Fort Kearny, Nebraska, taken by Pony Express to Folsom, California, and telegraphed to Sacramento. Total Miles Approximately 650,000 miles were covered in the slightly more than 18 months of operation. Longest Ride Robert "Pony Bob" Haslam rode 370 miles in one trip. He went from Friday's Station to Smith Creek and back in present-day Nevada. Cost At the start of the Pony Express, the cost to mail a letter was $5.00 per ½ ounce. By the time the Pony Express ended, the price had dropped to $1.00 per ½ ounce. Founders William H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. 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 One mail route was to send mail was to send it by ship from New York to Panama, across the Isthmus of Panama by pack mules, then by ship to San Francisco. Another route was to use stagecoach or wagons on the Southern or Butterfield Route. This route Memphis, Tennessee, to St. Louis, Missouri, to El Paso, to Los Angeles, to San Francisco. Telegraph The Transcontinental Telegraph was completed on October 24, 1861. This date is considered the official end of the Pony Express. Successes Improved communication between the East and West. Proved the Central Route could be traveled year-round. 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 the East and West until the telegraph was completed. Failures The founders of the Pony Express spent $700,000.00 on the Pony Express and had a $200,000.00 deficit. The company failed to get the million dollar government mail contract because of political pressures and the outbreak of the Civil War. Folklore One mochila was lost and one rider killed. The location, date, and name has not been verified.
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