The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-04
DAYSOF THE PONY EXPRESS.
SENATOR BENToN's LETTER SHOWS
THEY BEGAN IN 1s47.
How He Introduced System-Harry
Fafkenau, of Chicago, Has origi-
nal Document Addressed to POST
master GeneraI--Task of Riders.

One OF the most interesting original
documents relating 10 the establishment
OF the pony express system, by which
letter mail was carried from the Mis-
souri, river to the Pacific coast. is an
autograph letter written by United States
Senator Thomas II. Benton, which re-
Gently came into the possession OF Harry
Falkenan, of Chicago.
Perhaps the most significant feature OF
this letter. says the Chicago News, Is It's
date. According to the most authentic
histories Of the pony express obtainable
the earliest agitation OF this method Of
carrying mail took place in 1854, and 1t
grew out OF the fact that United States
Senator w. n. Gwin, of California,
made a horseback trip across the plains,
journeying to the national capital, IN
the course of which he fell in with b. f..
Ficklln. then charged with the manage
ment Of the freighting business of Rus
sell. Major & Waddell, who unfolded to
the distinguished Californian plan for
the rapid transportation OF letters by
means of postriders working in relays
and at the highest speed their animals
were capable OF making
The senator was keenly alive TO the fact
that he could render his constituents no
greater service than TO devise any plan
which would bring them into quicker and
closer communication with the East. Con-
sequently he became an enthusiast in favor
OF the plan proposed by Mr. F1ckn, and
was quick to grasp, by aid Of his own pho
leer experience, the feasibility of the
scheme as carefully outlined by the
freighting superintendent. AS soon as
these two travellers reached the eastern
frontier the proposed pony express was
discussed with their acquaintances. This
80 the records infer. was the first public
agitation of a plan for the establishment
Of the most picturesque system of mail
transportation ever put into operation In
any country.
Letter of Senator Benton.
The autograph letter from Senator
Thomas II. Benton. however. indicates
that fully seven years previous to the
eveutful trip OF Senator Gwin and Mr.
Ficklin the pony express rider was clear
~ defined entity in the mind of the great
pioneer senator from Missouri. Certainly
this conclusion is well warranted by his
communication to the postmaster general,
which reads as follows;
Washington City. March 6. 1871
Hon Mr.. Johnson, postmaster general
Sir; / recommend John NJ. Shiveiy be en-
ployed ~ you 10 carry mail TO Oregon
IL Is probable that the secretary OF war
and navy may have some dispatches to
send. and possibly the secretary OF state
to explain to the people OF Oregon the rea-
son of their anomalous condition, without
law or protection from the United states
Besides these government dispatches. he
VIII undertake to carry one mules or horse
load Of letters, papers, etc, etc, TO the in
habitants OF the country from their friends
in the United States For this service he
would deserve pay Independent of what
he might carry for the government. Yours
very respectfully.
THOMAS H. BENTON"
Although the expression pony express
does not appear In this communication
and the letter does not enter into a dis
cussiun of any system OF relay riders
the nature OF the service indicated is
parallel to that of the pony expressman,
and the epistle may therefore be consid-
cred as outlining in simple way the
pony system of letter carrying afterward
brought into practical operation through
the influence OF the senator from Califor-
MIA. Thus the recommendation OF Senator
Benton. of Missouri. to the postmaster
general was adopted That Mr. Shively
received the appointment asked by the
senator from Missouri Is attested by three
small vouchers attached to the autograph
letter. All these are dated in iS4a, and
one OF them reads as follows:
Letters from Astoria. July l. 1919. TO Or
eEon City.
Rates ---Unpaid---
Cents. M. Dolls. Cents.
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