The Pony Express

In 1860, a letter from Missouri to California could take more than three weeks. Three businessmen had a bold plan to speed up the mail. Riders on fast horses would carry it, racing day and night. On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express began. Its trail ran nearly 2,000 miles across the West.

The secret to its speed was the relay. Along the trail stood more than 150 small stations. Every 10 to 15 miles, a rider jumped off his tired horse and onto a fresh one. In a minute or two, he was gone again. The mail rode in a mochila, a leather cover with four pockets that fit over the saddle. After about 75 miles, the rider handed the mochila to the next rider, who raced on. This way, a letter could cross the West in about ten days.

The riders were young and light, so their horses could run fast. They rode through hot deserts, deep snow and steep mountain passes. But the mail was costly to send. At first, a letter cost five dollars for each half ounce it weighed. Meanwhile, workers were stringing telegraph wire across the country. On October 24, 1861, the telegraph line was finished. Now messages could fly from coast to coast in minutes. Two days later, the Pony Express announced that it would close. It had lasted only about 18 months, but people still tell stories about its daring riders.