Butterfield Stage Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(micro)
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A quick and easy one for the numbers. And to re-populate this nice little park with a cache. Elevation 1,152' & EPE 10'. A special thanks to trhunt & family for bring me here for their cache on 12/25/2006. Log only. BYO pen.
In 1857, Congress awarded John Butterfield a contract to deliver the U.S. mail from St. Louis and Memphis to San Francisco. As stipulated, the 2,812-mile route was to be covered in 25 days.
So began the Butterfield Overland Mail. Like the more famous Pony Express, Butterfield's stage line lasted only a short time, yet had a tremendous impact in the development of the West.
Butterfield established 141 stations along his route, which dipped south through Texas and the New Mexico Territory (then including Arizona) before looping back north to San Francisco.
Although the stage line was primarily for the delivery of mail, passengers could take the trip for $200, payable in gold.
Several low rock walls mark the site of the Apache Pass Stage Station, one of the most hazardous waypoints along the route. Built in July 1858, it consisted of a kitchen-dining room, sleeping rooms, storage room and mule corral. It wasn't much, but weary travelers could get a meal of bread, coffee, meat and beans for 50 cents.
Although Butterfield exhorted his carriers, "Remember boys, nothing on God's Earth must stop the United States mail!" the outbreak of the Civil War doomed his enterprise.
Congress, afraid the southern route would fall into Confederate hands, discontinued it in March 1861.
The ALL SEEING EYE for the first to find.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ab uvagf arrqrq.