The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-06-05
AN OLD STAGE LINE.
II Ran From Kansas TO California In
Thirty five Days.

y
days. fare. only S2uu n gold"
This was the heading Of an old hand
bill. yellow with age. which traveller
laid upon the counter In railway tick.
ct ciliyc the other day Il WAS an ud-
VertiScWcut uf u line Of stagcruachcS
that ran from Atchi~ou. Kan. to SAN
Francisco during the gold excitement
OF years u-u.
"Icoplc seldom stop 10 think what
their poor ancestors had tp put up with
IN the old days" the man said. lie
was comparing the old time table wita
modern railway time table. which
told of the Injuries one could have uy
travelling uu that road. no dust. ul jar
ring aud all other dlsagrcvahlc fea.
lures eliminated.
The old time table was double
sheet ot pupcr torn ana yellow with
age. II was issued 10y the Atchi-uu
nnd California stagccoach line in lS51.
The inducements It held forth were In
strange contrast with those of the
modern railroad advertisement. The
stagccoach line advertised that 10 had
recently rcfuruishcd the entire road"
with absolutely new wugoucttcs. aud
II told what Kind Of coaches they were.
how The springs were made aud of
what strength they were. II even said
that the coaches were painted IN the
'bcst manner possible" The horses
that drew the coaches were described.
too as the best.
An nducemcnt that was held ont on
the time table 10 prospective passen.
gers was stop over privilege.
Passengers who had paid their en-
tire fare from Atchison or other points
TO their destination" the paper said.
may register with our agents. \ stop
over privilege is then given for any
place on the road"
The time of the stop over was un-
limited. The time table provided that
n passenger might resume the Journey
whenever there was an empty seat in
the stagccoach.
eve make quicker time 10 Callfor-
MIA than any other stagcconch line and
Mt cheaper rate" the pamphlet stat.
ed. II went on to say that for 5000 n
person could ride all the way from
Atchison. Kan. TO the gold fields OF
California.
"The distance Is 1913 miles" was
stated ON the time table. "the longest
distance ever attempted by stage
coach line. Atchison to California in
thlrty-iive days"
A boast was made that there were
twelve telegraph stations on the road
TO California and that eating places
had been established along the road
where good meals could be had nt the
nominal price of 50. Every passenger
was allowed twenty-five pounds Of bag.
gage, consisting Of wearing apparel
and other necessary baggage. All over
that amount must be paid for at rate
OF 30 cents pound.
1t was advertised that the risk on
the return trip was very great on ac-
count of the amount of gold dust and
nuggets being brought back from Cali
fornia. The company employed only
the bravest men, fully armed all the
time. But II declined TO carry gold
dust unless paid for at the rate OF So
pound. The company refused TO he
held responsible for the loss OF the
gold dust by robbers, Indians or other
means.
The pamphlet also advertised fast
freight line between Atchlson and Den
yer. The round trip was made In the
short space Of twenty days. To ship
by this method all merchandise had
TO be wrapped In waterproof packages.
A package weighing ten pounds could
be sent by that route for 50. All over
that weight was sent at the reduced
rate OF 50 for five pounds.
In its advertisement for passengers
10 California the pamphlet, as stated
before, allowed every passenger TWEEN
ty-flve pounds OF baggage. However.
II advised that as many persons wish.
sd TO take more baggage than the
weight limit II would be safer to send
II TO California by sea.
"And 10 think that we can get on n
train tonight and be In Denver tomor-
row." the railroad man said as he COM
pared the time tables.-Kansas City
Star