Carson City, 1863, Virginia Pony
Carson City, Ormsby, Nevada Territory Virginia Pony Cover Date: January 30, 1863 The 'Pony Express' is legendary! But the telegraph spelled their doom. Still there were places that needed to get information quickly from Point A to Point B. Virginia City (the economical and financial center of Nevada) and Carson City (the political center of Nevada) were two of those points. The 'Pony Express' kept this route alive and it was called the 'Virginia Pony," |
In 1861 the Pony Express ceased to operate, but there was still the need for quick mail delivery from Virginia City (the mines) to San Francisco (the owners). It is true that the telegraph handled the news, but letters and newspapers needed to be delivered quickly between the financial and mining centers of the west.
To meet this need, Wells, Fargo & Company inaugurated a new Pony Express on August 11, 1862 that went from San Francisco, via Sacramento and Carson City, to Virginia City. For 10 cents per half-ounce you could have a letter delivered within a day to San Francisco. So, the Virginia City Pony was born. (See stamps to right.) A pony was used from Virginia City - through Carson City - to Placerville, then the mail was transferred to rail between Placerville and Sacramento, and finally by boat between Sacramento and San Francisco. The time between Sacramento and Virginia City was fourteen hours, and from San Francisco twenty-four hours. During this era means of transportation were constantly and rapidly improving. Old roads were widened and new ones constructed. Stages could now travel with greater speed and regularity, so that by the spring of 1865 the Virginia Pony service was no longer a necessity. The last delivery was made on March 17, 1865. |
The Gould & Curry was one of the early successes on the Comstock. From 1861 to 1864 they processed 315,000 tons of ore for $15,750,000 ($300,000,000 today). They also built the first monumental mill on the Comstock. Unfortunately it used the Freiberg process which did not work on Comstock ore. It was basically rebuilt in 1864 using the Washoe Process.
C. L. Strong was the first superintendent of the Gould & Curry. He was the man responsible for the first disastrous mill. In 1864 he was relieved of his duties. He settled down on a ranch near present day Whittier, California, but soon grew restless. He was back in Lander County, Nevada investing in new mining activities. Each one cost him to borrow more on his ranch. In 1883, despondent, he took his own life. It isn't often that we focus on the female in a cover, but Harriet Williams Russell Strong (see photograph on left) is an exception. Left with an over mortgaged ranch and four daughters, she turned her life around.
She brought walnuts and pampas grass to the Ranchito del Fuerte Ranch making it profitable. She patented five inventions (left) around water conservation based on what she did on the ranch. In 1917 she spoke in front of Congress on her plans to dam the Colorado River. She spent the last seventeen years of her life speaking on women's rights. Harriet is currently in the National Woman's Hall of Fame. |
Post Office Dates: August 11, 1862 - March 17, 1865
This is an extremely Rare Carson City Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express Pony cover. But many Pony Express covers are fakes. How can we be certain that this one isn't.
This is an extremely Rare Carson City Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express Pony cover. But many Pony Express covers are fakes. How can we be certain that this one isn't.