"On this day in 1860, the first Pony Express mail, traveling by horse and rider relay teams, simultaneously leaves St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. Ten days later, on April 13, the westbound rider and mail packet completed the approximately 1,800-mile journey and arrived in Sacramento, beating the eastbound packet’s arrival in St. Joseph by two days and setting a new standard for speedy mail delivery. Although ultimately short-lived and unprofitable, the Pony Express captivated America’s imagination and helped win federal aid for a more economical overland postal system. It also contributed to the economy of the towns on its route and served the mail-service needs of the American West in the days before the telegraph or an efficient transcontinental railroad.

The Pony Express debuted at a time before radios and telephones, when California, which achieved statehood in 1850, was still largely cut off from the eastern part of the country. Letters sent from New York to the West Coast traveled by ship, which typically took at least a month, or by stagecoach on the recently established Butterfield Express overland route, which could take from three weeks to many months to arrive. Compared to the snail’s pace of the existing delivery methods, the Pony Express’ average delivery time of 10 days seemed like lightning speed.

The Pony Express Company, the brainchild of William H. Russell, William Bradford Waddell and Alexander Majors, owners of a freight business, was set up over 150 relay stations along a pioneer trail across the present-day states of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. Riders, who were paid approximately $25 per week and carried loads estimated at up to 20 pounds of mail, were changed every 75 to 100 miles, with horses switched out every 10 to 15 miles. Among the riders was the legendary frontiersman and showman William “Buffalo Bill” Cody (1846-1917), who reportedly signed on with the Pony Express at age 14. The company’s riders set their fastest time with Lincoln’s inaugural address, which was delivered in just less than eight days.

The initial cost of Pony Express delivery was $5 for every half-ounce of mail. The company began as a private enterprise and its owners hoped to gain a profitable delivery contract from the U.S. government, but that never happened. With the advent of the first transcontinental telegraph line in October 1861, the Pony Express ceased operations. However, the legend of the lone Pony Express rider galloping across the Old West frontier to deliver the mail lives on today. "

On this day in 1776

"Congress authorizes privateers to attack British vessels

Because it lacked sufficient funds to build a strong navy, the Continental Congress gives privateers permission to attack any and all British ships on this day in 1776.

In a bill signed by John Hancock, its president, and dated April 3, 1776, the Continental Congress issued, INSTRUCTIONS to the COMMANDERS of Private Ships or vessels of War, which shall have Commissions of Letters of Marque and Reprisal, authorizing them to make Captures of British Vessels and Cargoes.

Letters of Marque and Reprisal were the official documents by which 18th-century governments commissioned private commercial ships, known as privateers, to act on their behalf, attacking ships carrying the flags of enemy nations. Any goods captured by the privateer were divided between the ship’s owner and the government that had issued the letter.

Congress informed American privateers on this day that, YOU may, by Force of Arms, attack, subdue, and take all Ships and other Vessels belonging to the Inhabitants of Great Britain, on the high seas, or between high-water and low-water Marks, except Ships and Vessels bringing Persons who intend to settle and reside in the United Colonies, or bringing Arms, Ammunition or Warlike Stores to the said Colonies, for the Use of such Inhabitants thereof as are Friends to the American Cause, which you shall suffer to pass unmolested, the Commanders thereof permitting a peaceable Search, and giving satisfactory Information of the Contents of the Ladings, and Destinations of the Voyages.

The distinction between pirates and privateers was non-existent to those who faced them on the high seas. They behaved in an identical manner, boarding and capturing ships using force if necessary. However, privateers holding Letters of Marque were not subject to prosecution by their home nation and, if captured, were treated as prisoners of war instead of criminals by foreign nations. "

First post of the day. Parts and pieces for the car in my avatar are starting to show up.

Focus ST?

Still above ground!

Half day at work today- huzzah!

I'll use my second post answering @officerX

Yes Focus ST. I ordered a bigger intercooler, atp elbow for the outlet side, polished elbow for the inlet side, mishimoto 2.5 inch couplers, and some hose clamps. It already had an intake, exhaust and tune. My end goal is 300 horsepower at the wheels. It should be close to 250 now without the intercooler. I'm thinking that once I do all the other stuff I have planned(cobb accessport with stage 3 tune, catless downpipe, upgraded charge air piping, and the cold air snorkel it will be close to that. If that doesn't get it done I'll throw a 25 shot of nitrous at it.

Damn I miss NM food.

My car was fixed earlier than expected and I picked it up this morning.  Sad thing is I had to turn in the rental which was a 2018 Charger

Enjoying a nice day off with the family

Somewhere in New Mexico.

It keeps raining here, so I'm imagining warm, sunny days:

Got a great deal on a pressure washer and put it together last night.

Now I just need some dry weather so I can try it out.

Nice day. Windy as hell, though.

Just drove 7 hours with that wind blowing pretty much directly across my path.

Just about wore me out.

FedEx brought me 2,000 rounds of CCI Standard Velocity .22lr.

A couple buddies and I stumbled across half-price liquor sale at convenience store.

Celebrated my granddaughter's 7th birthday this evening!

Just packed up the robot and tools for the District championship.

My #1 shorty

I've been trying to do this for the past couple years. Maybe next weekend...

Years ago, we were driving through Kansas and the crosswind was so bad it was sucking the doors of my truck open enough to hear outside.

Got to shoot a tad today.

Rain finally quit!

Got 3 rifles zeroed yesterday. Feels good, man

I bet OP forgot about this thread

Good Morning

My 6.5 creedmore rifle finally shipped. The FFL that I am getting it shipped to changed locations. In reality they moved to a different space in a large office building they own. On Thursday the 29th I called KGC and asked if it was going to ship as I ordered it on the 19th. It had been 10 days and 7 or 8 business day so I was beginning to wonder. They said yes it should ship Thursday or possibly Friday at the latest. I waited through the weekend and called again Monday afternoon. The guy on the phone informed me of the address change for the FFL and that they(KGC) hadn't received a copy of their new FFL certificate. He said he would call and get it taken care of. I asked what if I didn't call and check on this? How long would it have been just sitting there with no where to ship to? His answer..."I don't know. Probably until you called and checked on it." Holy herp and derp.

The women of Stargate Atlantis

Winter weather and campers.   2 foot drifts in the yard.  I gues i will not be moving the camper today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROBERT DOWNEY, JR.

Time for my coffee!

We might make it to 50.

A little bit of salsa verde really spices up your scrambled eggs in the morning.

Good bye Elko, NV, it’s been grand.

Just visited my favorite customer and had a technical meeting with the owner. He's one of the most interesting guys I've ever met.

Inherited a business from his father and grandfather, built up a part of it to be world class, had the market destroyed by federal regulations and he's building up what will likely be a monopoly, doing pretty much the opposite of his previous business.

A couple of guys there with good understanding of chemistry and lots of practical experience applying innovative ideas to industrial processes.

Sorry - no details about their business. All proprietary.

Had carpets cleaned last Friday. On Easter there was a mishap with some green dye from a toy:

Cleaners returned today and said no charge after removing all stains! (Slipped the kid a 20).

SYSTEM is as SYSTEM does