Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/369

 COMMUNICATION IN EARLY OREGON 361 on this fact the Sacramento Union said : "It is with regret we part with the Pony, but it seems to be considered by those who established the Express that it has accomplished its mission. It effected an important and sudden revolution in the reception of news from the Atlantic side and has proved of great benefit to the people of California. During the year 1860 the trips by pony were made with astonishing regularity rarely varying more than a few hours from the time expected. The Pony Express also developed the Central route ; it directed public attention to it; and by its regular trips in Winter as well as summer, demonstrated to the world the practicability of the route for mail purposes. The result was a contract for carry- ing the Pacific mails overland daily. As that mail is, or ought to be, delivered daily, the proprietors of the Pony seem to have concluded that the Express is no longer needed." The Pony Express was a remarkable enterprise of semi- official character, and for a couple of years served to bridge over the link of nearly 2000 miles between St. Joseph, Mo., and Sacramento, Cal. It was started April 18 ? 1860, and the first trip was made in 10 days, lacking seven minutes. More than $250,000 were wagered on the result. Miller, one of the partners, attended to the details of the inauguration of the service. He bought 300 of the fleetest horses he could find in the West and employed 125 men, 80 of whom were post riders. Men of light weight but known courage and experience on the plains were selected. It was necessary that some portions of the race against time should be run at the rate of 20 miles an hour. The horses were stationed from 10 to 20 miles apart and each rider was supposed to ride 60 miles, though it hap- pened more than once that when the rider arrived at the end of his run he found the other man sick or injured or dead, and then the tired rider ran out the other man's stunt. Only two minutes could be spared for shifting mails and changing steeds. At first, where there were no permanent stations, tents for one man and two horses were set up. Single miles were recorded as being done in one minute and 50 seconds. The dangers and difficulties, fights with Indians, dare-devil feats and hair-