We have driven past this location numerous times on our travels and
every time we would say "We need to place a cache there!". Well,
today was THE day and we placed a cache there. The historical
marker is covered up by the way-overgrown pokey plant so we are
adding the text here:
Butterfield Mail and Stage Line One of major
horse-drawn transportation projects of history. Was authorized by
Act of Congress on March 3, 1857. Contract for semi-weekly service
overland to San Francisco, California, was awarded to company
headed by John Butterfield; another stockholder in the $2,000,00
venture was express pioneer William G. Fargo. The line employed
some 2,000 people and used hundreds of stagecoaches and thousands
of animals. In addition to receipts from freight and passengers, it
had a $600,000 annual subsidy for carrying U.S. Mail. Company
operated from September 1858 to February 1861 with a 25-day
schedule for the 2,795 mile trip (8 to 9 days were allowed for
crossing Texas). Route began in Tipton, Mo., and Memphis,TN.,
uniting at Fort Smith, AR., entering Texas near Sherman, thence
westward through the Comanche-held frontier, leaving the state at
El Paso. Stage stations were located about every 20 miles and the
best known in this vicinity were Fort Belknap, Fort Phantom Hill,
Mountain Pass and Fort Chadbourne. Between Fort Belknap and Tucson,
AZ., mules were used to pull the coaches as they were less
appealing to Indians. Each coach accommodated four to ten
passengers at an average fare of $200 each; mail and freight
charges were ten cents per one-half ounce. (1969)
the3defaus are founding members of the
WTXGA:
This cache was hidden by a member of
GAGA:
the3defaus currently serve on Active Duty
in the United States Air Force. We are Proud Members of the
MAGC:
