One of these two men who were riding horseback along the Central Route, also known as the Oregon Trail, was California Senator Gwin. The senator was on his way eastward to Washington, D. C. The other man was B. F. Ficklin, who was superintendent for the freight-hauling wagon train and stagecoach company of Russell, Majors, and Waddell.
Crazy Person Wanted, With Money
Beginning with these two men the idea of a lightening-fast pony express between California and Missouri was born. But it wouldn't be a simple thing to accomplish. It would take considerable manpower, supplies-and money. The first problem to be solved was to find someone, possibly smart enough and or crazy enough to go along with the idea.
When the idea was presented to William Russell he knew that here was an opportunity to do something he had long wanted to accomplish, take the government mail contract away from Mr. Butterfield who traveled a longer southern route west.
New Company is Born
Russell had to convince his two business partners, Alexander Majors and William Bradford Waddell, who was a descendent of Pilgrim William Bradford, to go along with the plan. Reluctantly, Majors and Waddell agreed and the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company was born. But it wouldn't be stagecoaches that carried the mail this time. The means of transport would be horses, fast and strong and enduring horses.
Wanted: 500 Fast Horses
The next step in the plan was to acquire some five hundred of the very best horses that could be had. These steeds would have to be able to run fast enough to make the ten to fifteen miles between stations in about one hour. The stations were the next item of accomplishment.
The Pony Express continues at: Pony Express Riders.
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