b'DID YOU KNOW, IN THE OLD WEST.By Lee Anderson, Old West Living Historian, Award Winning Author, and Old School HorsemanLee Anderson and his horse, Concho, are well known around the state doing presentations in schools,corporate events, and civic events. Learn more about them and his book on his website. historicaloldwest.orgF or its time, 18601861,There were more than 100 stations and between 400 the Pony Express was aand 500 horses. Its 80 riders had covered a total of revolutionary idea. In this650,000 miles. issue lets take a look at some very interesting Pony Express trivia. I n 1860 there were no telephones, radios or telegraph. Letters from New York to A lexander Majors, one of the founders, was aSan Francisco took 30 days by steamship religious man. He presented each rider with a Biblearound South America. An overland and required the followingmail route by Butterfield oath: "While I am the employExpress took 23 days. The Pony of A. Majors, I agree not useExpress could deliver a letter profane language, not to getfrom St. Joseph, Missouri to drunk, not to gamble, not toSacramento, California in the treat animals cruelly and notunheard time of 10 days. at to do anything else that isa cost of $5 per half-ounce. A incompatible with the conductpretty hefty sum in 1860.of a gentleman. And I agree, if I violate any of the aboveT he Pony Express ran each conditions, to accept myweek in each direction, with an averagedischarge without any pay fortime of 10 days. Delivery of Lincoln\'sE ven though the Pony my services." inaugural address set a new record ofExpress was never slightly less than eight days. The maila part of the U.S. Postal D uring the 19 months itmoved at an average of almost 250 Service, the galloping Pony Express rider was the existed, only one rider wasmiles a day. official symbol on every letter carrier\'s shoulder killed by hostile Indians, anduntil the invention of Mr. Zip in 1963. only one bag of mail was lost. ArizonaRealCountry.com August 2023 9'