Name/Title
History Of The Pony Express, 1960Entry/Object ID
AM1991.1.151Scope and Content
History Of The Pony Express, 1960. This is a copy. Corrections in the copy are initialed by Don Reynolds. The following story of the Pony Express was prepared by the Library of Congress for the Congress in support of a bill authorizing Pony Express Centennial Commemorative Medals.
The Pony Express existed 19 months, from April 3, 1860 to November 20 1861.This service made a deep impression on the times far out of proportion in importance to its brief duration. It proved of far greater significance than merely a life of glorious adventure to some 80 young men as has been so often depicted in western films. The pony express was instrumental, most of all, in binding the country together, in linking distant California to the more popular East. It gave the West the fastest form of communication known up to that time. John Butterfield's famous overland mail covered this 2,000-mile distance by a lengthy circuitous southern route in 22 days. The pony express cut this time in half. On special occasions when it carried Buchanan's farewell address, it established records of 8 days.
The pony express demonstrated that a central rather than a southern route across the continent would expedite the carrying of mail to the west coast. It proved the feasibility of a transcontinental road paving the way for the first railroad to span the continent 9 years later.
The pony express was the well organized venture of Russell, Majors, and Waddell. Riders averaged 20 years of age although several including the famous Buffalo Bill was scarcely 15. The men weighed around 125 -130. The risks were great but so were the salaries. The riders received from $50-150 a month. That was a fabulous sum of money 100 years ago.
One hundred and nineteen stations spaced some 15 miles apart, with some 400 horses, as many stationmen and assistants, and approximately 80 riders served the pony express.
On April 3, 1860 Mr. Russell and an excited crowd watched the inauguration of this historic service. Johnnie Frye mounted his pony, rode to the company's office and amidst cheers dashed off. Sacramento at the same time witnessed a similar scene, thus opening one of the most thrilling and colorful chapters of American history.Lexicon
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