These fast stages charged high fares and did not carry much baggage. Passengers were expected to walk several miles each day and to help pry the coach out of ruts when necessary. Rochester was laid out in 1811 and it was only four years later that the first stage coach ran between Rochester and its county seat in Canandaigua. It was important to establish communications and travel between these two villages for government work and news, because there wasn't yet a newspaper in Rochester. The trip from Rochester to Albany dropped from a week or two by coach to eight hours by train.
Evaluation Keep a journal after reading each section and discussing the stories.
Compare modes of travel today with the 19th century. Create drawings, particularly drawings done on location, such as on board the Sam Patch 19th century replica canal boat, Browns Race at the High Falls, Broad Street or Driving Park.