![]() Away across the endless dead level of the prairie a black speck appears against the sky. Presently the driver exclaims, 'Here he comes!' Every neck is stretched further, and every eye strained wider. While on a stage coach headed for the "Far West", Mark Twain wrote: The Pony Express intrigued many people with its young, lanky riders and quick footed mustangs. The Pony Express was in operation from Apto Octo(Mattes and Henderson 83). However, some deliveries were completed with incredible speed, in as little as seven days (Mattes and Henderson 86). As the Express ran all year long, delays were inevitable. To accomplish the task, riders had to average 10 mph to make the near 2,000 mile journey in time. Joseph Missouri to Sacramento, CA within 10 days. ![]() The company charged five dollars for every ½ ounce of mail carried and promised its passage from St. Russell, Majors, and Waddell advertised the Pony Express's speedy service to attract clients. They took the risk with hopes of obtaining a government contract to permanently deliver mail along the Central route (Olson and Naugle 109). Having extensively invested in the new venture, Russell, Majors, and Waddell carefully and quickly organized the route and had it running within a few weeks (Olson and Naugle 109). ![]() A hundred thousand dollars was invested from the inception of the Pony Express in order to purchase 500 sturdy horses, hire 80 young riders, and supplies for all of the stations (). Majors and Waddell hesitated entering into such a risky and expensive ordeal, but wanted to uphold their partner's commitment to Gwin (Olson and Naugle 109). Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, in order to show the efficiency of the Central route. Senator William Gwin of California believed it critical to unite the country across the "Great American Desert." He encouraged William Russell, of the famous freighting firm Russell, Majors, and Waddell, to found a pony express from St. The government believed that no effective mail service could function year round on the route due to the severe winters and rough terrain. However, receiving news or correspondence from the east took a month or more due to poor mail services on the Central route. The west hosted half a million Americans by the end of the 1850s. A new visitor center with interpretive exhibits has been erected near the historic building.Drawing of a Pony Express rider passing a telegraph construction crew. It is a rare example of a Pony Express station that still stands unaltered in its original location. The Stage Company have a station here, and there is also one or two other buildings." Site Information There are two good springs here, but no wood. The approach to it is winding and steep, and as the bed of the stream contains several large stones at the ford, some care is necessary in driving. Clark reached Cottonwood Creek in 1860 and found "a small stream which is dry during the summer months. Three years later, it became a Pony Express home station and later a stage station.ĭr. Emigrants were able to obtain provisions at the ranch. In addition to living quarters for the Hollenberg family, the building served as a neighborhood grocery store, a tavern, and an unofficial post-office. Hollenberg to capitalize on the Oregon-California emigrant trade that passed his door. The Hollenberg ranch house was built on Cottonwood Creek about 1857 by Gerat H.
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