The operations of the road agents became so bad that the Overland stage traffic came near being abandoned, soon after its institution.

The first Overland stage to California was put in service in 1859. and shortly after the pony express was inaugurated. The time for mail from New York to Sacramento, by the "Butterfield Stage Route," was twenty-one days, and the pony express shortened it to ten days. As early as 1851 a monthly service by stage was put on to Salt Lake City. Letters were written on the thinnest of paper, for it cost five dollars for a half ounce communication to be delivered at the Golden Gate by Pony Express.

Old Stage and Pony Express stations, between Julesburg and Fort Laramie, were Mud Springs, Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff, Horse Creek, Sand Hills, Bordeaux. Sometimes they crossed the river at Horse Creek and back at Fort Laramie. These were north side stations used. One at Rock Bottom Ford, and another was near the old Wyncote station. Sub-stations at intervals of about ten miles were made.

President Lincoln's inaugural address was started from the Missouri river, March 4, 1861, and in just seven days and seventeen hours it was delivered at Sacramento. It then became a regular schedule of eight days to travel the two thousand miles, or two hundred and fifty miles each twentv-four hours.

On April 3, 1860, the first start of the Pony Express was made, and on the eleventh there was a crowd waiting at each end that broke into wild cheers as the rider hove in sight.