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March 1, 2023
Today in Texas History
By Bandera Spirits of Texas
On this day in 1861, the two-and-a-half-year history of the Butterfield Overland Mail in Texas came to an end. The Butterfield line began operations on Sept. 15, 1858. It carried passengers and mail between St. Louis, Memphis, and San Francisco, a distance of 2,795 miles.
A government contract called for the company to carry letter mail twice weekly in both directions in four-horse coaches, or spring wagons suitable for carrying passengers. Each trip was to be completed in 25 days. The postage rate was 10 cents per half ounce. Passenger fare was $200 each way.
Stage service in Texas was terminated in March 1861, when an agreement was made to modify the contract and move the route northward out of the state.
Pt. 2: On this day in 1836, some 32 reinforcements arrived from the town of Gonzales to help defend the Alamo.
A government contract called for the company to carry letter mail twice weekly in both directions in four-horse coaches, or spring wagons suitable for carrying passengers. Each trip was to be completed in 25 days. The postage rate was 10 cents per half ounce. Passenger fare was $200 each way.
Stage service in Texas was terminated in March 1861, when an agreement was made to modify the contract and move the route northward out of the state.
Pt. 2: On this day in 1836, some 32 reinforcements arrived from the town of Gonzales to help defend the Alamo.