Synopsis of the Butterfield Overland Mail Route
On September 16, 1857, the idea for how to achieve the first Overland Mail Route was proposed by John Warren Butterfield and his associates (including William Fargo ) to connect St. Louis, Missouri with San Francisco, California.
They agreed to a six-year contract at $600,000 per year to complete a semiweekly mail service between the two cities. The first stage carrying the mail for the East left San Francisco on September 15, 1858 and the westbound mail left St. Louis on September 16, 1858. The East mail would be taken 160 miles from St. Louis to Tipton, Missouri by train then loaded on a stage for the rest of the trip. The goal was to traverse the distance (2,795 miles) in less than 25 days.
Before that time passengers heading for California had to either leave the East Coast across the Gulf of Mexico to Panama, where they took burros across the Isthmus to the Pacific Ocean. From there taking a steamer up the coast to California (in 1849 approximately 4,600 people) or round Cape Horn on a steamer (approx. 16,000 people). The gold rush in California at Sutters Mill beginning the 1848 Gold Rush brought many gold seekers.
A mail service to the Pacific coast was established on March 3, 1847 with ships that could be converted to war use. The route went up and down both coasts, over the Isthmus of Panama by oxen and then boats. This service took between three and four months.
The Overland Mail Route:
- Stagecoaches, either the larger Concord or the smaller, lighter Celerity "Mud Wagon' with a canvas roof, were used depending upon the terrain to be covered. They covered about 120 miles in a 24 hr. period - travelling both day and night. Teams would travel between 3 and 9 miles per hour depending upon the terrain.
- They were pulled usually by teams of 6 mules or horses (again depending upon the terrain). Mules were stronger and horses were faster.
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- There was a driver or "jehu", "whip" or "Charlie" and a conductor or "shotgun" guard riding on the top. The trail was divided into nine divisions. Each had a superintendent, the drivers and conductors and personnel to take care of the horses, mules and gear at each station. They would go in one direction then take another coach in the opposite direction, staying in their own division. They were all men except for Charley Parkhust, a woman who was only found out after her death after driving for thirty years.
- There were stations 15 to 20 miles apart (either "swing stations" where the teams were changed usually lasting about 10 minutes and "home stations" where meals and lodging were provided to passengers. The home stations had corrals, outbuildings maintenance/repair shops and crews' quarters; meals consisted of bread, green tea, coffee, eggs, biscuits, fried steaks of bacon, venison, antelope or mule flesh costing between $.75 and $1)
- There were either 9 or 6 passengers riding inside the coach (3 facing backward, 3 facing forward and 3 in the center seats in some coaches sitting knee to knee). Others could also ride on the top during certain times.
- Each passenger could take up to 40lbs. of luggage without being charged extra. The original fare was $200 either way (close to $5,714 today).
- A San Diego newspaper recommended bringing along "one Sharp's rifle and a hundred cartridges, a Colts navy revolver and two pounds of balls, a knife and sheath, a pair of thick boots and woolen pants, a half dozen pairs of thick woolen socks, six undershirts, three woolen overshirts, a wide-awake hat, a cheap sack coat, a soldier's overcoat, one pair of blankets in summer and two in winter, a piece of India rubber cloth for blankets, a pair of gauntlets, as small bag of needles and pins, a sponge, hair brush, comb, soap etc. in an oil silk bag, two pairs of thick drawers and three or four towels."
- There were nine divisions between 462 and 192 miles long each taking between 80 and 11 hours to travel. The overall travel time was 24 days, 18 hours and 26 minutes for a totle of 2,795 miles. Each driver would travel from one end to the other before going back along the same route.
- Stage coach etiquette:
1. Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink, share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear selfish and unneighborly.
2. If ladies are present, gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor of same is repugnant to the Gentle Sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted but spit WITH the wind, not against it.
3. Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of ladies and children.
4. Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort during cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated and the offender will be made to ride with the driver.
5. Don’t snore loudly while sleeping or use your fellow passenger’s shoulder for a pillow; he or she may not understand and friction may result.
6. Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not fire them for pleasure or shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses.
7. In the event of runaway horses, remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic will leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, hostile Indians and hungry coyotes.
8. Forbidden topics of discussion are stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings.
9. Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward lady passengers will be put off the stage. It’s a long walk back. A word to the wise is sufficient