... to California in seven days and seventeen hours, a record time. The Pony Express was organized by a stagecoach operator, William Hepburn Russell. He had been convinced by a group of important Californians that a mail route over land to their state was possible. Russell's business partners did not like this idea because it would not be protected by a U.S. mail contract. But he built the need ... board. Their earnings were $100 to &150 a month. Their average age was 19, but one rider, David Jay, was only 13. Another was William F. Cody, who became famous as "Buffalo Bill". In order to sav...

• Word Count: 377
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School