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The Pony Express
It was hard for pioneers to communicate with their families back East. They left letters at
trading posts and even under rocks along the trail, hoping that wagons going east would take
them. In April 1860, the Pony Express began delivering mail from St. Joseph, Missouri, to
Sacramento, California, in only 10 days! Riders changed horses every 10 miles (16 kilometers)
and after 70 miles (112 kilometers), a new rider took over.
29 Finding fresh water on the trail was not easy. Rain barrels on
wagons collected water, but they never had enough. Pioneers had no
choice but to drink from creeks and rivers just like their cattle. One
woman wrote of sucking on a rag soaked in vinegar when there was no
water. Another wrote about straining pond water through the end of a
wagon cover!
30 In spite of all of these hardships, the pioneers managed to make the
journey and settle new towns throughout the West. Their strength,
innovations, and adventurous spirits helped shape the United States we
know today.
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