I always taught the Pony Express as part of my business/economic history classes, and had a separate speech on it I would do for students.
What is most interesting to me is that the PE only lasted a year before telegraphs ended it, but that most of the PE riders, according to a study by Raymond and Mary Settle, ended up very well off. Realize the PE paid an astonishing $25 a week back then when a nickle bought a steak dinner and a quarter bought a man’s suit. It was an outrageous sum.
That is because one ad for the PE read “Wanted! Young wiry fellows willing to risk death daily! Orphans preferred!”
One guy went on to be the head manager of the Coast branch of major US insurance company. two or three scouted for the Union Army and worked with the railroads; one built his own hotel in Santa Fe; and so on. Only one ended up significantly worse off, because he chose to be a hermit.
Judging by the number of Pony Express riders (and station agents) who died on the job they earned their money. The risk and the small amount of cargo they could carry in their mochilas accounted for the very high postage rates customers paid to have their correspondence carried across the route.
Having visited several of the stations (ruins) and driven the trail on one of the more forsaken stretches it is understandable why they get that pay.
We have also visited the ruins of airmail beacons out in the desert. What most don’t realize is that the airmail flew almost the same route (plus many others) in similarly dangerous conditions. In the dark of night in the middle of Nevada all the had were beacon towers ever ten miles or so. Even 50 years after the pony express it was still some very empty country. Still is very empty as a matter of fact.