First Transcontinental Mail Service Begins

On this date in 1858 the first transcontinental mail service to San Francisco begins
The new Overland Mail Company sends out its first two stages, inaugurating government mail service between the eastern and western regions of the nation.

With California booming, thanks to the 1849 Gold Rush, Americans began to demand faster transcontinental mail service. Finally, in March 1857, the U. S. Congress authorized an overland mail delivery service offering $600,000 a year to any company which could succeed in transporting the mail twice a week from St. Louis to San Francisco in less than 25 days.

A contract was presented to the Overland Mail Company. The Overland Mail Company spent $1 million improving its winding 2,800-mile route and building way stations at 10-15 mile intervals. Teams of thundering horses soon raced across the wide open spaces of the West, pulling custom-built coaches with seats for nine passengers and a rear boot for the mail.

The overland route was anything but a pleasure trip. Packed into the narrow confines of the coaches, passengers either baked or froze as they bumped down the dusty roads. Since the coaches traveled night and day, travelers were reluctant to stop and sleep at one of the "home stations" along the route because they risked being stranded if later stages were full. Many chose to try and make it through the three-week trip by sleeping on the stage, but the constant bumping and noise made real sleep near impossible. Passengers found that toilets and baths were few and far between, the food was poor and pricey, and the stage drivers were often drunk, rude, profane, or all three. While robberies and Indian attacks were a constant threat, they occurred far less commonly than popularly believed.

Though other faster mail delivery services soon came to compete with the Overland Mail Company - most famously the Pony Express - the nation's first regular trans-western mail service continued to operate as a part of the larger Wells, Fargo and Company operation until May 10, 1869, the day the first transcontinental railroad was completed. On that day the U. S. government cancelled its last overland mail contract.

Nothing special happened here yesterday, just a normal work day. We did record another edition of the Global Minority Report.

I want those who haven’t become familiar with the Rhino lawsuit to click on the Rhino Times label at the end. Remember, in order for us to win in the courtroom we first have to win at the Post Office. In other words we must have your support to pay for this legal battle. Please help with a contribution to: Christian Concepts / P. O. Box 2222 / Harrison, AR 72601.

Jason Robb (our Arkansas counsel) and I have to fly to Greensboro, N. C. On October 4th. We have a court ordered meeting with a mediator on October 5th and then opposing counsel has deposed me on October 8th.

Please keep us in your prayers as we battle on the front lines for our race, faith and homeland.

Don’t forget White Christian Heritage Festival - October 20.

Winter Fellowship Conference - December 1-2.

Thank you for your support and keep spreading the GOOD NEWS of White Christian Revival!

I won't be writting on my blog until Tuesday morning.