The Butterfield Overland Mail: Only Through Passenger on the First Westbound Stage

Many times I have heard about the Butterfield Stage route, but had no impetus to delve into their story. These enterprising gentlement put together a bid to provide US Mail service between St Louis Missouri and San Francisco in the mid-1850s. A US government contract was the prize, and a sizable compensation was entirely possible. Several companies submitted competitive bids using different routes, but Butterfield's route across Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, the New Mexico and Arizona territories, and through California was selected on the basis of total mileage and year-round access. This book provides a first person account by the only through-passenger on the official maiden run. Trappers, hunters, gold-seekers and others had made their way across the country using various routes and encountering various dangers. The Butterfield Stage Company cobbled together a series of stage stops where horses and drivers were changed, and perhaps meals were available. The stage did not stop. The maiden run had to prove the route was viable to provide one-way mail service between St Louis and San Francisco in 25 days. The steamship route evidently took a while longer. Within a brief period the transcontinental railroad took even less time to cross, so this book provides a snapshot of a snapshot in time of the progress of settling the West and the US in general. The author was a newspaper reporter who sent the chapters of this story East for publication while en-route. The story only provides an account of the reporters life on the stage, with commentary about the scenery, the workings of the stage line, the rough life, and the opening of the West. If you enjoy historical accounts of everyday life, this book is a must-read.

I found the book to be very interesting. For anyone interested in the old days of travel it is a great book and outstanding insite into the way the old west was and not the way Hollywood shows it to be. Very interesting.

Very interesting reports about the short lived butterfield overland route, recommended reading.