Need young, skinny, wiry fellows

[D2Cat]

This ad wouldn't last long today on social media. It was a different time.

This reproduction of a 1860 advertisement appeared in newspapers across the country looking for “young, skinny, wiry fellows” to be riders for a newly formed overland express mail service. William Russell, Alexander Majors, and William Waddell established the relay system of riders transporting the mail from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California in 10 days - faster than the overland stage delivery. The Pony Express launched its operation #onthisday in 1860. Relay stations were set up along the route where a rider could eat, sleep, and change horses. It was a dangerous route, but surprisingly, only one rider lost his life and only one sack of mail was lost. The Pony Express came to an end on October 24, 1861, when the transcontinental telegraph connected the east to the west coast. To find out more about this unique mail service, go to www.kshs.org/15497 #kansashistory

 

[85Hokie]

That would be about $935 dollars today...

Now, weekly pay = 25 bucks, 10 days or less............ that may not add up!!!!

So if it took you 10 days - you get paid of 7 or ????

Now looking that distance up ........... that's 1400 miles to somewhat central calf.......... that's 200 miles a day (7 days) , assuming you could ride for 12 hours = that's 17 miles an hour.

across a bit of mountains, some dry areas, some Indians I would assume - and a bunch of small towns.

It would take steel balls to pull that off!

 

[DustyRusty]

The mail service hasn't gotten better. It took 9 days from Texas to Massachusettes for a first-class package weighing less than 3 ounces.

 

[Bmyers]

The mail service hasn't gotten better. It took 9 days from Texas to Massachusettes for a first-class package weighing less than 3 ounces.

Well maybe their pony wasn't feeling well.

 

[GeoHorn]

Even if the riders survived…the job didn’t last long…. the transcontinental RR and the telegraph ended the Pony Express….after only a year and half.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

sometimes its best to go with short fat and slow.

 

[D2Cat]

Even if the riders survived…the job didn’t last long…. the transcontinental RR and the telegraph ended the Pony Express….after only a year and half.

That's what was in the part you didn't read. Began this day in 1860 service terminated Oct.24, 1861.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

Even if the riders survived…the job didn’t last long…. the transcontinental RR and the telegraph ended the Pony Express….after only a year and half.

Yep…RR sort of killed the Erie Canal too. Canal lasted a little bit longer though. There are still some remnants along I-90 and the Mohawk River that are interesting to stop/visit at though in NY.

 

[GeoHorn]

That's what was in the part you didn't read. Began this day in 1860 service terminated Oct.24, 1861.

I didn‘t miss anything…. It was my Master’s Thesis…