In 1744, crude wagons were used to transport people along the post roads in New England. By 1756, transportation between New York and Philadelphia was also available. In 1766, travel time was reduced from three days to two with the "Flying Machine", an improved coach. Before the start of the 19th Century, coaches were transporting mail and replaced post riders in many areas. The Coachmen carried letters, packages and money and often performed business transactions for their customers. By 1829, Boston was the hub with 77 coach lines. In 1832, 106 coachlines went through Boston.
When steamships began operating between Providence and New York stagecoach transportation between Boston and New York ceased. However, the six-hour stagecoach trip to the harbor at Providence increased. In the 1830s when railway transportation began servicing major metropolises, coach transportation from the railways to other communities increased.
The first Concord Coach was built in 1827 by the Abbot Downing Company. These coaches used leather straps for braces instead of the springs. This provided for a swinging motion over ruts rather than a jolting motion, giving passengers a more comfortable ride. More than 700 of these coaches were built at the original wagon company in Concord, New Hampshire. These coaches were used in North and South America, Africa and Australia. It is said that they didn't break down, but were built well that they simply wore out. The Abbot Downing Company disbanded in 1847. Mark Twain referred to the Concord Coach as a "cradle on wheels" in his book Roughing It.
Travel conditions for passengers were sometimes exhausting. In coaches with three bench seats, passengers road three in each seat, confined to an area of 15 inches. The middle and back seats faced forward while the front seat faced rearward. On the center seat, passengers' backs were supported on the long ride by a single strap of leather. Passengers road with their baggage on their laps and sometimes mail pouches beneath their feet. Some travellers suffered from motion sickness which was made worse by the condition of the roads and having their heads banged on the roof or sides of the coach. On the overland stages, passengers road for twenty-two days straight, day and night, hot and cold, blowing sand and dust, stopping only to change horses. Oftentimes, passengers had poor food and no rest for the duration. If a passenger got off, he may have to wait a week or longer if subsequent coaches were full. Passengers were required to walk to relieve fatigued horses, or to get the coach through deep sand. Passengers were also required to help push coaches out of mud or other places where they were stuck and the horses weren't enough.
The Following Rules were posted by Wells Fargo for Passengers:
Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear selfish and unneighborly.
If ladies are present, gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor of same is repugnant to the gentler sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted, but spit with the wind, not against it.
Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of ladies and children.
Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort in cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated and the offender will be made to ride with the driver.
Don't snore loudly while sleeping or use your fellow passenger's shoulder for a pillow; he or she may not understand and friction may result.
Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not fire them for pleasure or shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses.
In the event of runaway horses remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic will leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, hostile Indians and hungry coyotes.
Forbidden topics of conversation are: stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings.
Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward lady passengers will be put off the stage. It's a long walk back. A word to the wise is sufficient.
While conflicts arose leading to the Civil War, communications between St Louis, Missouri and San Francisco, California via stagecoaches thrived. Although the Pony Express is actually considered to be the first fast mail line, in reality the first fast mail line was the SanAntonio-SanDiego Line. This line was also known as the "Jackass Mail" line as the last 180 miles from Fort Yuma to SanDiego were done by mule, not stagecoach. This line ran from 7 Jul 1857 to Dec 1858, before being obtained by the Butterfield Overland Stage. The Butterfield Overland Stage ran from Tipton, Missouri to San Francisco, California. The Butterfield Overland Stage Co began operation 15 Sep 1858 with twice weekly runs. Each run there and back had to be completed in 25 days or less in order to qualify for the government contract.
In 1860, Butterfield Overland Stage Line was sold to pay excess debts. The Civil War also disrupted Stagecoach Routes, as the stages had to quit using the Oxbox Route and switch to the Central Overland Route. Ben Holladay took over the line from St Louis, Missouri to Denver, Colorado. Wells Fargo took over the remaining portion. Transcontinental stagecoaching came to an end with the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869.
The stagecoach, however, was far from dead. Towns and communities that were just off the railroad would receive their mail via the stagecoach. Passengers would also commute with the coaches as well. This proved to be a very useful time in the life of the stagecoaches. However, in the 1920s with the widespread use of automobiles, stagecoaches were replaced. The few that were still available were used a tourist attractions in wild west shows. For that, it was the automobile that finally did in the stage coach.
Butterfield Overland Stage Line
SanAntonio-SanDiego Mail Line
Wells Fargo
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