Chapter
The Pony Express: Mail Delivery on Horseback
08:16 - 13:04 (04:47)
The Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company ran the Pony Express mail delivery service, where riders would switch horses at stations along the route to deliver mail in the 1860s. The riders would carry mail bags called mochilas, which held up to 20 pounds of mail, but the Pony Express only operated for a year and a half due to high costs and the introduction of the telegraph.
Clips
The Pony Express was a mail service in which riders would switch horses at weigh stations to deliver mail quickly across the United States.
08:16 - 10:19 (02:02)
Summary
The Pony Express was a mail service in which riders would switch horses at weigh stations to deliver mail quickly across the United States. The service was run by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company, whose owners were experienced in the freight hauling business.
ChapterThe Pony Express: Mail Delivery on Horseback
EpisodeSelects: How the Pony Express Worked
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The Pony Express rarely had full saddlebags, and their pricing structure left them unable to compete with the rapidly expanding telegraph.
10:19 - 11:06 (00:46)
Summary
The Pony Express rarely had full saddlebags, and their pricing structure left them unable to compete with the rapidly expanding telegraph. They charged $5 per half gram, but their saddlebags could hold up to 20 pounds of mail.
ChapterThe Pony Express: Mail Delivery on Horseback
EpisodeSelects: How the Pony Express Worked
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The Pony Express didn't have a wide customer base and no official government contract, making it an expensive venture for the company.
11:06 - 13:04 (01:58)
Summary
The Pony Express didn't have a wide customer base and no official government contract, making it an expensive venture for the company. Due to this, people would write letters on tissue paper to save costs because they charged by the half gram.