People In California

People in California

People in California wanted mail. The telegraph line was not connected that far west in 1860, and trains did
not pass the Missouri river. It took almost took a month to get a letter by ship or stage coach. That's why
the Pony Express was started.
In the mid 1800's gold was discovered in California. Thousands of people hitched their wagons and headed
west for the chance of striking it rich. The state of California grew from about 20,000 to 500,000 people in
5 years. They wanted the conveniences they had back east, especially regular mail service. The railroad and
telegraph lines did not reach California, and ships and stage coaches took too long. Finally, in 1860 plans
for a 10 day mail route using horses was introduced and called the Pony Express.
An ad in many newspapers across the states read:
Wanted
Young, skinny, wiry, fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans
preferred. Wages $25.00 per week.
The advertisement was luring. Twenty-five dollars a week was a high salary at that time and being a rider
was a glamourous job. Hundreds of young men answered the ad but only 80 were chosen. Those 80 riders
had to have high moral standards and take an oath that said that said that they wouldn't drink, fight or use
profane language.
Despite the oath, it is difficult to imagine these riders not uttering some colorful language when being
hotly pursued by Indians. To protect themselves against Indian attacks t...

People In California

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