His Leavenworth-Pike's Peak Express was bankrupt and the freighting firm of Russell, Majors and Waddell was struggling to recoup the losses suffered from the attack of their overstocked and underinsured wagon train in Utah. Russell took a huge gamble to bail both companies out of debt--secure the mail contract between Leavenworth and Sacramento.
On 27 January 1860 in Leavenworth, John W. Russell received a brief telegram from William, his father. "Have determined to establish a Pony Express to Sacramento, California, commencing 3rd April. Time ten days."
John gave the local newspaper the telegram and set to work preparing for the new enterprise.
Crews were hired to build new relay stations and remodel old stage stations along the route. Of the 190 stations required, 25 were home stations and 165 were swing stations.
Three days after receiving William H. Russell's telegram, the Leavenworth Daily Times ran this headline: GREAT EXPRESS ADVENTURE FROM LEAVENWORTH TO SACRAMENTO IN TEN DAYS. CLEAR THE TRACK AND LET THE PONY COME THROUGH.
Since Russell, Majors and Waddell had originally established their freighting firm in Leavenworth and Russell had operated his Leavenworth-Pike's Peak Express from there, too, the townfolk expected Leavenworth would be the home base of the Pony Express.
Adding fuel to that assumption, William H. Russell's partner, John Jones, placed an advertisement in the Leavenworth Daily Times on 10 February 1860 for "200 mares, not to exceed 15 hands and well broke to the saddle." Most of those horses came from the Army stock at Fort Leavenworth and cost approximately $200 a head.
On 20 March 1860, Russell and Waddell signed a contract making St. Joseph, Missouri the starting point of the Pony Express. The 1,966 mile route was the longest in the world.
Riders were paid $50 a month plus room and board. The ideal rider was young and slim--twenty years old and approximately 125 pounds. Horse and rider were expected to travel 12½ miles an hour without stops between stations.
Instead of ordinary mail pouches, the Pony Express used a specially designed pouch called a mochilla. The heavy leather pouch covered the saddle and hung halfway to the stirrups. A weatherproof leather box or cantina to carry the mail was sewn on each corner. Three of these pouches were for "through mail" and remained padlocked, with only the station keepers in St. Joseph and Sacramento having keys for them.
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