WESTERNEXPRESS Research Journal of Early Western Mails

Vol. 67 No. 4 ¤ Whole No. 266 ¤ December 2017 ¤ Unit No. 14 , American Philatelic Society

Quarterly Publication of the Western Cover Society

TABLE OF CONTENTS

President’s Message, etc...... 1

The San Francisco News Letter 1856-1858 By Scott R. Trepel...... 5

Top of the World: California’s Highest Post Office and Access to Yosemite’s High Country Ryan Baum...... 17

Contents of the Cover By David F. New...... 35

Several Pages from a Western Express Exhibit By George Kramer...... 37

EXPRESS ¤ OVERLAND ¤ TERRITORIAL ¤ POSTAL RATES ¤ OCEAN MAIL ¤ POST OFFICES ¤ STATEHOOD ¤ POSTAL HISTORY Recent Awards

APS StampShow 2009 (Pittsburgh, PA) - GOLD Chicagopex 2009 (Arlington Heights, IL) - GOLD

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

If you collect Western Express covers, Territorials, Town cancellations, or anything pertaining to the mails of the Old West, you are invited to join the Western Cover Society and enjoy meeting other collectors.

Western Express (ISSN 0510-2332) is published quarterly (March-June-September-December) by the Western Cover Society, which is a not-for-profit 501 (C-3) tax exempt organization. Western Cover Society seeks to fulfill its charitable and educational mission through the publication of books and journals. All contributions above the basic subscription rate are tax deductible and will go to support publication of material.

The annual membership in the society includes a subscription to Western Express. All who share an interest are invited to join. Annual membership is $35.00 per year. Membership application and back issues can be obtaining by contacting Robert Chandler at our web site, www.westerncoversociety.com. Claims for missing issues made within six months will be serviced free of charge.

All photographs and published material are assumed to be the copyright of the Western Cover Society unless the copyright is retained by the author. Contact the Secretary for copyright permission or the author where noted. Photocopy permission for non- resale classroom usage is freely given.

Western Cover Society does not accept responsibility for views expressed in articles or advertisements that appear in the pages of Western Express. It provides opportunities for publication of material that may represent ideas, judgments and opinions. The publication of articles or advertisements should not be construed to promote collecting or establish pricing of material that is in private hands. Send manuscripts to the editor for publication consideration. All manuscripts are subject to peer review.

Lifetime Membership $500.00 one time Patron Membership $75.00 per year Sustaining Membership $50.00 per year Active Membership $35.00 per year Foreign Memberships require an additional $35.00 per year postage, in addition to any membership fee noted above

Send application with appropriate check to: Western Cover Society Robert Chandler, Secretary 430 Ponderosa Court Lafayette, CA 94549

Please state your collecting interests. Your application will be acted upon at the next meeting of the Board of Directors. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————- Advertising rates, per issue: Full page $150.00, half page $85.00, quarter page $50.00 Four consecutive insertions, paid in advance: Full page $550.00, half page $300.00, quarter page $175.00

Submit ads to the General Editor: Ken Stach, PO Box 6; Letcher, SD 57359 ([email protected])

Copyright 2017 by the Western Cover Society ISSN 0510-2332 Western Express December, 2017

President’s Message Larry Rausch, #1561 Submitted by Michael Perlman Rochester, NY [email protected] This issue of the Western Express contains some great articles. We are fortunate that one of those Fish Colgate #1560 articles is a tremendous piece of original research by Ocean Isle Beach, NC Scott Trepel. “The San Francisco News Letter 1856 [email protected] -1858” is a full analysis of the history of the A member of the Postal Stationary Society and Newsletter as well as its publisher, Frederick loves collecting. Marriott. Like many of you, I have seen Newsletter covers come up in auctions and never realized the production changes that occurred with these folded Treasurer’s Report letters. Scott has done an amazing job of piecing Submitted by Ryan Baum together the story behind the covers. Nice job Scott. The Western Cover Society remains strong because While still five months away, I would like to remind of your continued membership and financial everyone that Westpex 2018 will be held on April support. We currently have over $67,000 in the 27th – 29th at the San Francisco Airport Marriott. bank. Shortly after you receive this journal, we will We will be holding our annual board meeting on be sending the membership renewals for 2018. You Friday evening and our presentation will be on may wish to consider "joining for life" so that you Saturday morning. Our speaker this coming year need not ever pay again! For our members located outside the United States, please remember the will be Scott Prior, who has written a number of additional USD $50 annual fee to cover postage, terrific articles for us. Please plan your travel even for our fellow collectors in Canada and arrangements in advance. It would be a shame to Mexico. Our base membership dues offset journal miss the premiere show in Philately. printing costs and the additional international mailing fee covers the additional postage. Also, as a favor, please reply to the first dues renewal notice Secretary’s Report since that will save postage and printing for second Submitted by Robert Chandler or third notices.

Under John Drew’s leadership, WCS members The year has gone by so quickly, I didn't have as gather on the last Friday of the month at the much opportunity to visit historic sites as I had Marines’ Memorial at 609 Sutter Street, San wanted. I was able to spend Veterans Day with my Francisco. The last gathering on Friday, October 27 son, his friend, and the friend's father visiting had the following in attendance: Dale and Edie Columbia, California. If you haven't visited, it is a Eggen, Schuyler Rumsey, John Carpenter, Bob and fun state park with restored shops and buildings as it Sue Chandler, Mike Serdy, Ken Harrison, John was 150 years ago. The Wells Fargo office is Drew, Matt Kewriga, and Dennis Hassler. Please famous for its second story balcony and bold Wells try to attend if you are in the area! Fargo name painted on the inside back wall. When its doors are open, it presents an inviting view of We are delighted to welcome three new members: what an express office actually was. It was the father who was most interested. He had never Gary Clarke, #1562 panned for gold. On our way home, we stopped by Prince George , BC, Canada Knights Ferry on the Stanislaus River and [email protected] panned. Despite being downstream of a reservoir, Collecting Interest: BC Express mail and Gold we were able to find two pinpoint size grains of Rush mail gold. He was hooked! My goal for next year is to get him to join Western Express.

1 Western Express December, 2017

Despite my not getting to many locations this past forty years of collecting the area, I’ve yet to find a fall, I was able to spend some time at home reading type that he did not record. Furthermore, it has only and doing some research. I would like to hear more been within the last year that I’ve actually seen two of your research and interests. Ken Stach can of the varieties he documented in his 1988 article. I always use more material for content. I can vouch was beginning to wonder if they really existed! that he makes the submission process easy and is a master at making the material and content look My aim has been to research Clarke’s and the other wonderful. I hope you are willing to share your Black Hills expresses from original source research soon with us, too. documents and properly write it all up. I’ve found this task easier said than done. I grew bleary eyed a Best wishes for the Holiday Season and the year ago looking at and copying/printing microfilm upcoming New Year! of early Black Hills newspapers at the State Archives in Pierre. I’ve hired a research helper in the Nebraska State Archives to garner me what Editor’s Message information could be found from “their Submitted by Ken Stach side” (Clarke’s Express ran from Sidney, Nebraska into the Black Hills of Dakota Territory). One of my years-long projects has been to research the expresses that ran into the Black Hills of my I expect all this to culminate in an appropriate home state, South Dakota. Len Persson wrote an article for Western Express sometime this winter article for Western Express that appeared in our (likely during one of our famous prairie blizzards). July, 1988 issue entitled “The Franks of Clarke’s While there may not be a blizzard this winter in Centennial Express,” Clarke’s being one of the your part of the world, I hope that you find the time expresses that ran into the Black Hills during the to write up your favorite topic for our journal. We gold rush of the 1870s. Len’s article focused welcome a variety of articles, as evidenced by this primarily on the colorful, informative and elaborate issue. Please submit your draft article directly to printed franks of entrepreneur Henry Tefft Clarke. me, or to the appropriate section editor noted on the And, Len did a great job of documenting the various following page. Thanks, and have a wonderful types of printed franks used by Clarke. In fact, in Holiday Season!

One of your editor’s favorite covers. By government mails from Boston 23 Feb 6 cts (1852) with their matching PAID to San Francisco; forwarded to Mormon Island with Fd 5 (due) notation; by Hunter & Co’s Express Mormon Island endorsed and delivered to Murderer's Bar with manuscript notations Murd Bar and 1.25 (express rate due). The pre- paid rate for distances >3000 miles was 6¢ from Jul 1, 1851 to Apr 1, 1855.

2 Western Express December, 2017

Western Cover Society - Officers & Directors Officers & Directors Office Email Address Phone Number

michael.perlman Hollywood, FL 33312 Michael Perlman President @bm1.brandsmart.com 954-249-5050

Rick Mingee Vice President [email protected] Castle Rock, CO 80104 303-921-4702

Robert Chandler Secretary [email protected] Lafayette, CA 94549-0455 925-946-0921

PO Box 4187 Ryan Baum Treasurer [email protected] Davis, CA 95617-4187 530-210-0523

PO Box 6634; Larry Ballantyne Director [email protected] Katy, TX 77491-6634 281-579-6276

Jim Blaine Director [email protected] Vacaville, CA 95688 707-446-9076

P.O. Box 686 Dale Forster Director [email protected] Portland, OR 97207 503-228-6399

PO Box 1175 Fred Gregory Director [email protected] Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274 310-375-7991

George Kramer Director [email protected] Clifton, NJ 07013-3853 973-471-8660

David Snow Director [email protected] Portland, OR 97215 503-238-7619

PO Box 6 Ken Stach Director [email protected] Letcher, SD 57359 605-248-2620

Bill Tatham Director [email protected] Santa Rosa, CA 95404-1922 707-623-9481

Steve Walske Director [email protected] San Francisco, CA 94118 415-346-9001

Edward Weinberg Past-President

Western Express - Section Editors Section Description Editor Email Address Phone Number

PO Box 6 General Editor Ken Stach [email protected] Letcher, SD 57359 605-248-2620

The Express Mails Robert Chandler [email protected] Lafayette, CA 94549-0455 925-946-0921

California & Nevada Bill Tatham [email protected] Santa Rosa, CA 95404-1922 707-623-9481 Towns michael.perlman Western Routes Michael Perlman Hollywood, FL 33312 954-249-5050 @bm1.brandsmart.com

Pacific Northwest, B.C. PO Box 686; Dale Forster [email protected] 503-228-6399 and Vancouver Island Portland, OR 97207

PO Box 1175; Hawaii & The Pacific Fred Gregory [email protected] Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274 310-375-7991

PO Box 6634; Trans-Mississippi West Larry Ballantyne [email protected] Katy, TX 77491-6634 281-579-6276

3 Western Express December, 2017

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f . . t:.,... ,. Estimate $300,000-400,000 Estimate $40,000-50,000 SOLD FOR $460,000 SOLD FOR $132,250

~ 0 /i-: ~/~.,~~ r~£J rVf' '?ra£t' ~~-Z 'l/;:U/:~~ !d--f

Estimate $30,000-40,000 Estimate $30,000-40,000 SOLD FOR $120,750 SOLD FOR $149,500

Estimate $500,000-750,000 Estimate $200,000-300,000 SOLD FOR $632,500 SOLD FOR $299,000

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4 Western Express December, 2017

The San Francisco News Letter 1856-1858 By Scott R. Trepel

Figure 1. San Francisco News Letter number 31 dated October 20, 1857, for the sailing of the PMSS Sonora. 10¢ 1855 Type II (Scott 14) pays the domestic letter rate. Census ID #20.

In this article the San Francisco News Letter will be opportunities in Vancouver Island. After his return called the “Letter,” just as it was by its publisher, in 1859, the newspaper was reestablished as the San Frederick Marriott, an English-born journalist, Francisco News Letter and California Advertiser, newspaper publisher, financial schemer, occasional which was published continuously until 1928. blackmailer and pioneering promoter of aviation Marriott died in 1884, and his son, Frederick Jr., technology who emigrated to California in 1849. took over the paper. Marriott touted the Letter as a practical means to convey news to correspondents on the East Coast, The 1856 to 1858 Letter editions were printed on a overseas and within the state of California. It also sheet of paper that could be folded into envelope served to advance Marriott’s intertwining financial size and addressed on the front panel for mailing. and political interests, to level attacks against his The early versions – at least through January 20, foes, and to extort money from public figures he 1857 – had no printing on the address panel; from threatened with the prospect of scandalous news the outside they look like ordinary folded letters or reports. circulars. Sometime during or before May 1857, the address panel was enhanced with an overall printed Each Letter publication date was tied to an outbound design incorporating the newspaper’s title (“The San Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company sailing to Francisco News Letter”) held by an eagle with Panama, the western leg of the ocean route linking outstretched wings; illustrations of a steamship at the east and west coasts. The first Letter was sea and railroad train crossing land; and the published on July 20, 1856, in time for the next-day steamship name and (usually) the sailing date for departure of the PMSS Golden Age. (An 1851 which the edition was intended. An example is publication with the same name was published by shown in Figure 1. Francis A. Bonnard.) The Letter was published regularly through early 1858, then discontinued There are two names engraved in the Letter design. briefly while Marriott ventured off to find business The imprint “A. NAHL” (to the left of the

5 Western Express December, 2017 steamship) belongs to the well-known artist and engraver, Hugo Wilhem Arthur Nahl, who with his brother created many outstanding illustrated views of early California. The other imprint “A. SCHEITWEILER” (to the left of the locomotive) does not match any known artist or name in the city directories, leaving one to wonder if it was a name invented by Marriott.

When properly folded by the sender, the illustrated address panel appeared on the front and the content was concealed. In some editions, the first page (the back of the address side) was left blank to give the sender a place to write a letter. If a letter or message was added, or if a loose slip of paper with writing was enclosed, the 10¢ domestic letter rate applied. If the printed newsletter was sent without any writing other than the address, the significantly lower 1¢ domestic printed matter rate is all that was required. This dual-rate structure is described in the Letter itself (a 2¢ printed matter rate to Europe is also noted). Surviving examples show both Figure 2. Frederick Marriott, publisher of the San domestic rates, paid by either a 1¢ or 10¢ stamp, as Francisco News Letter. well as a part-paid 20¢ rate to Panama and a stampless 20¢ rate to Mexico. The Letter in Figure Marriott traveled to California in 1849 when he was 1 has a 10c 1855 stamp paying the letter rate, but 44 years old. After crossing the Isthmus of Panama there is no writing inside (one can assume the and arriving on the West Coast, Marriott dabbled in sender enclosed a written message). gold mining, engaged in banking, speculated in real estate, and practiced muckraking journalism. He lived in Sacramento briefly and then settled in San FREDERICK MARRIOTT Francisco. Englishman, News Publisher, Banker, Speculator, Blackmailer and Aviation Pioneer A small ad for Marriott’s business in San Francisco (“Loan, Land, Scrip, Mining and Money Agents”) is Frederick Marriott, whose portrait is shown in found in the Alta California of November 9, 1850. Figure 2, was born in 1805 in Enfield, England, just A subsequent ad identifies a partner or agent for real outside of London. At the age of 28 he married a estate, R. S. Clyde, with an address at 271 young woman from a wealthy family who provided Montgomery Street (Alta California, July 4, 1852). Marriott with the means to finance his pursuits, Marriott subsequently formed a partnership with including journalism and publishing. He founded Alfred Wheeler to create the Pacific Loan and the Weekly Chronicle, a popular illustrated Security Bank, located at 98 Merchant Street. In newspaper that later became the Illustrated London July 1856, when he launched the Letter, Marriott News. In 1841 Marriott, together with three had an office at 104 Merchant Street. Sometime partners, launched the Aerial Steam Navigation after July 1857, he moved to 134 Clay Street, Company to make mechanical flight an engineering opposite the Merchants’ Exchange building. During and commercial reality, a goal he continued to the time Marriott was in Vancouver Island, ads for pursue after settling in the United States. Some Marriott, Bridges & Co. (“Land Agents, Convey- biographers have claimed that Marriott invented the ancers, Surveyors and Auctioners [sic]”) list an term “aeroplane,” but there is scant evidence to address on Government Street in Victoria and at 134 support that claim. Clay Street in San Francisco.

6 Western Express December, 2017

Some of Marriott’s banking practices seem to have part to salvage his reputation and intimidate his been ethically questionable. Newspaper reports enemies. Marriott’s arch enemy was Thomas King, from January 1852 criticize his involvement in editor of the Evening Bulletin, whose brother James, circulating worthless paper demand notes, known in the Bulletin’s original editor, had been fatally shot derisive terms as “shinplasters.” After Adams & in the middle of Montgomery Street in May 1856 by Co. failed in February 1855, Marriott was James Casey, another local newspaper editor. The demonized in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin Vigilance Committee made sure that Casey and his for involvement in fraudulent activity. These friend, Charles Cora, another convicted murderer, negative articles also mention Marriott’s earlier were publicly hanged from a building on Sacra- scheme to issue shinplasters. The exact nature of mento Street. Marriott’s note-issuing activity is not known. However, the 1852 ad placed by Marriott & Co. Thomas King despised Marriott, blaming him in specifically mentions the firm’s location across the part for his late brother’s financial woes, which street from one of the large banking houses, resulted from previous bank failures, the Adams Burgoyne & Co., which did issue demand notes in 1855 bankruptcy, and crooked business practices the early 1850s. An example of Burgoyne & Co.’s that James King had railed against during the later notes is shown in Figure 3, and it is possible that years of his life. Thomas hurled insults at Marriott Marriott was somehow involved in circulating them. through his newspaper editorials and gleefully published reports of Marriott’s nefarious activities and court trials.

There is no doubt that Marriott was the Letter’s publisher from the beginning, but he evidently tried to conceal his direct involvement from 1856 to 1858, when the Letter was published in the easy-to-mail format. The well-known San Francisco bookseller and newspaper distributor, J. W. Sullivan, was listed as the publisher at first, apparently without his permission. An article in the Bulletin (July 22, 1856), Figure 3. Burgoyne & Co. 25¢ demand note, a “shinplaster” that Marriott might have helped distribute in the early 1850s. alleged that Marriott tried to bribe Sullivan into allowing his name to be used:

The Adams & Co. failure in 1855 created a financial The letter sheet shown us purported to be crisis that dragged down Marriott & Wheeler and published by J. W. Sullivan. We yesterday the Pacific Loan and Security Bank. Wheeler sued called on Mr. Sullivan and inquired if it had Marriott to recover assets lost in the insolvency, and been issued by his authority. He informed us various other entities fought over the massive losses that his business was to sell whatever was resulting from unregulated banking practices and brought to him on commission; that Mr. speculation. While the legal battles were fought in Marriott, of the late firm of Marriott & court, the public smear campaigns were fought in Wheeler, of Savings Bank notoriety, and who the newspapers. Anger over financial misdeeds and went into insolvency last week, had asked him general lawlessness led to blood in the streets, quite to sell a letter sheet which he was about literally, and the Vigilance Committee of San publishing for circulation in the Atlantic Francisco was revived in 1856, using violence to States. The terms were agreed on, and, to Mr. stop violence. Sullivan’s surprise, when the sheet was received he discovered that his name was used In the midst of this mayhem, Marriott returned to at the masthead, without authority, as the newspaper publishing and launched the Letter, in publisher. He remonstrated against this

7 Western Express December, 2017

improper use of his name, when Mr. Marriott informed him that the document was got up to effect a certain object; and that if he (Sullivan) would suffer his name to be used as “publisher,” he (Marriott) would give him (Sullivan) a thousand dollars, to indemnify him for any loss he might sustain through its publication. Mr. Sullivan, on consultation, refused this offer, and ran a pen over his name.

Marriott was found guilty and fined more than once for extortion related to the newspaper business. The most serious case occurred in September 1857, during the period when the Letter was in publica- tion. Marriott was charged and convicted of blackmailing two police officers, the chief of police, the president of the Board of Supervisors, and a judge who ruled against Marriott in an earlier case. He and a writer for the Letter, E. L. Brittingham, concocted the shakedown, in which Marriott informed the police chief that a new publication, the Plaindealer, was about to publish an article containing scandalous information that would cause the chief and others great embarrassment. Marriott assured the chief the article could be suppressed for a mere $200. Figure 4. Excerpt from November 5, 1856, edition of the Letter, giving details about the publication’s office and operation. Unbeknownst to Marriott, the police had arranged a trap for Marriott and his accomplice. The chief the Letter on display; he was given a one-time played along with the blackmail by giving Marriott pardon for the offense. If the John Butts employed a marked $100 gold coin and two $50 checks. by Marriott as the “town agent” is the same John When Marriott met with Brittingham to divide the Butts tried and convicted of petty theft in the spring loot, they were both arrested. The case ended in of 1857 (Sacramento Daily Union, June 3, 1857), convictions, and each was fined $500. Of course, Marriott apparently chose a tough character to make the Bulletin reported the developing story of sure newspaper depots gave the Letter a prominent Marriott’s arrest, trial and conviction. position in the racks.

An excerpt from the November 5, 1856, edition of The same Letter (November 5, 1856) lists a branch the Letter is shown in Figure 4. It contains office at W. B. Cook & Co.’s Law Blank Depot on interesting information about the enterprise. John Montgomery Block and the publishers as J. H. Still Butts is identified as the paper’s “Town Agent,” & Co. at 88 Kearny Street and 104 Merchant Street whose duty is “to supply the Carriers, Book Stores (Marriott’s office address). John Still & Co. was and Public Offices” with copies. Butts was also another prominent San Francisco bookseller and something of an enforcer, who would “see that the news distributor. Based on the story about Marriott ‘Letter’ is posted on all the Bulletin Boards of the first trying to use J. W. Sullivan as a straw man, the City, and report to us the default of any vendor of same might be true for Still. If so, Still was the ‘Letter,’ who fails to supply the public on apparently willing to be part of the deception, at applications.” This is followed by mention of a least for a while. By May 1857, Still & Co.’s ads nameless vendor who was drunk and forgot to put show offices at 120 Washington Street and 62

8 Western Express December, 2017

Kearny Street, and no further connection between communicating with their friends at a this firm and the Letter is found. distance, have not time to collect and impart those special items of useful information they Also around May 1857, the Letter in the new deem necessary to convey to them. illustrated format gives 134 Clay Street as the publisher’s main office. The masthead also lists Marriott did not spend much time in Vancouver numerous representative offices throughout the Island. By September 1859 he was back in San world and identifies Wells, Fargo & Co. as Francisco, devoting his time and energy to running distributors throughout California. Stated the reestablished San Francisco News Letter and circulation figures rose from 3,000 in 1856 to 7,500 California Advertiser. The paper was expanded into in 1857. This vast network of offices, Wells, Fargo a full newspaper and attracted prominent writers, & Co.’s role as a distributor, and the Letter’s including a young mustachioed Mark Twain. extraordinary circulation growth were probably Whatever transgressions Marriott might have false or greatly exaggerated claims made by committed (or would commit), he began a path Marriott to enhance the status of the Letter and toward establishing himself as a venerable journalist charge the advertisers higher rates. Marriott, always and news publisher. He also carried on his dream of the promoter, liked to claim that the Letter was building a flying machine. growing by leaps and bounds, as shown in the Colville city directory ad for 1857, which exclaims “Rising Rapidly!” (see Figure 5). The Flight of the Avitor

Marriott’s Aerial Steam Navigation Company venture in England in the 1840s never amounted to much, but he still believed in the possibility of both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air flying machines. Once he was an established publisher in San Francisco, Marriott began organizing another company to invent a machine that could fly coast to coast. The California Aerial Steam Navigation Co. Figure 5. Advertisement for San Francisco News was established in 1866 for the purpose of Letter in 1856-1857 Colville city directory. transporting “freight, passengers, and dispatches from place to place through the air” (Marysville Around September 1858, after publishing the Letter Daily Appeal, September 2, 1866). The group of for about two years and putting the blackmail investors included General Thomas Cazneau, W. C. conviction behind him, Marriott left San Francisco Ralston, E. C. Levell and John Hewston. for Vancouver Island, where the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush was in full swing, and the town of Construction of the flying machine – Marriott called Victoria was teeming with prospectors and small it the Avitor Hermes – took place in a barn in San business operators. Marriott promoted himself as a Jose near the San Jose and San Francisco Railroad real estate agent and started publishing the The yards. It was reported on June 14, 1867, that News Letter for Vancouver Island and New construction had been completed, and an offering of Caledonia. The September 25, 1858, edition 10,000 shares of public stock at $100 per share was contains an interesting description of the newslet- made; this might be the earliest IPO in aviation ter’s purpose and function, which is relevant to the technology. Marriott had hoped to launch the San Francisco publication: Avitor before the last stretch of the transcontinental railroad line was completed. He almost succeeded. OUR NEWS LETTER for Vancouver’s Island The rail line was completed on May 10, 1869, and and New Caledonia, like its counterpart in the Avitor’s first public display flight occurred Australia and California, is intended as “a about two months later on July 4, 1869, at Shell labor saving machine” for those who, in Mound Park.

9 Western Express December, 2017

Figure 6. Flight of the Marriott’s flying machine, the Avitor, in July 1869.

The photograph in Figure 6 is reputed to show the project came to an end when the Avitor was actual 1869 Avitor. The machine, about 30 feet destroyed in a fire. long and eight feet wide, resembles a giant football with wings and a rudder. To keep the gas-filled After the destruction of the lighter-than-air Avitor, blimp from ascending, the ground crew holds it Marriott turned his attention to inventing a heavier- down with cables. than-air “aeroplane” and founded the Aeroplane Steam Navigation Company. In 1881 a series of Marriott’s newspaper gave an account of the first articles in his newspaper reported progress in public display flight. An excerpt follows: building an “aerial carriage” which would be named the “Leland Stanford.” Marriott’s patent application Steam was raised, and the carriage obeying its (number 44,882, filed October 31, 1881) was propellers, raised several feet from the floor rejected on August 14, 1883, because the affidavits and started forward at a rapid pace… it arose did not adequately support the applicant’s promptly, and gracefully and took its flight contention that the machine would actually work. into the air under the guidance of the rudder, Marriott died in December 1884 with his dream of thus establishing the astounding fact that it an aeroplane unfulfilled. Two decades later, on the had power and could fly; and giving proof that sandy beach of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the the grand problem had been solved… Wright Brothers succeeded in making Marriott’s prophecy come true. Another account in the Daily Alta California was less optimistic, concluding that “unless some other power is discovered that can be condensed in a far Editions of the San Francisco News Letter less compass than that of steam, we fear that the success of the present affair is hopeless.” There is no complete record nor are there examples of every published Letter. Sometime in early 1857, The Avitor made more display flights in San each Letter was numbered, and the numbers were Francisco later in July 1869. By attracting the correlated to the twice-monthly PMSS sailings, public’s attention, Marriott had hoped he could starting with the Letter’s first publication date (July obtain funding to build a larger version – 150 feet in 20, 1856). Table A (opposing page) lists all of the length and 30 to 40 feet in diameter – in time for the PMSS sailings (ship name and date) from July 20, Mechanics Fair in September of that year. However, 1856, through March 5, 1858. The column headed the money was not forthcoming, and the whole “Sailing No.” lists the numbers that should have

10 Western Express December, 2017 Table A

Pacific Mail Steam Ship Co. sailings and San Francisco News Letter publication data Census ID No. * = Sailing Sailing Letter Bancroft 1856 Date No. News Date No. Library Notes Golden Age 21-Jul 1 Jul 5-20 [1] First edition Sonora 5-Aug 2 [2] John L. Stephens 20-Aug 3 [3] Golden Age 5-Sep 4 [4] Sonora 20-Sep 5 [5] Golden Gate 6-Oct 6 [6] Golden Age 20-Oct 7 [7] Sonora 5-Nov 8 Oct 20-Nov 5 [8] 1* No illustration John L. Stephens 20-Nov 9 Nov 5-Nov 20 [9] 2 No illustration Golden Gate 5-Dec 10 [10] Sonora 20-Dec 11 Nov 20-Dec 20 [11] 3*, 4 No illustration 1857 John L. Stephens 5-Jan 12 [12] Golden Gate 20-Jan 13 Jan 5-Jan 20 [13] 5* No illustration Sonora 5-Feb 14 [14] John L. Stephens 20-Feb 15 [15] Golden Age 5-Mar 16 [16] Hit a rock and returned to SF for Golden Gate 20, 23 Mar 17, 18 [17,18] repair, second departure 23 Mar John L. Stephens 6-Apr 19 [19] Golden Age 20-Apr 20 [20] Golden Gate 5-May 21 [21] Sonora 20-May 22 May 5-May 20 22 6* John L. Stephens 5-Jun 23 May 20-Jun 5 23 7, 8 Golden Age 20-Jun 24 Jun 5-Jun 20 24 9*, 10, 11 Sonora 4-Jul 25 Jun 20-Jul 4 25 12 John L. Stephens 20-Jul 26 26 Golden Age 5-Aug 27 Jul 20-Aug 5 27 13 Number 27 Sonora 20-Aug 28 Aug 5-Aug 20 28 14, 15 Number 28 California 5-Sep 29 Aug 20-Sep 5 28 [dup] 16, 17, 18 Duplicate "Number 28" John L. Stephens 21-Sep 30 Sep 5-Sep 21 29 19 “Number 29" Returned to SF broken shaft; Golden Gate 5, 11 Oct 31 30 second departure 11 Oct Sonora 20-Oct 32 Oct 5-Oct 20 31 20 Golden Gate 5-Nov 33 32 John L. Stephens 20-Nov 34 33 Golden Age 5-Dec 35 34 Golden Gate 21-Dec 36 35 1858 John L. Stephens 5-Jan 37 36 Golden Age 20-Jan 38 37 Number 28 and “Events from Jan. Sonora 5-Feb 39 Jan 26-Feb 5 38 [“28”] 21, 22* 26th to Feb. 5th, 1858" John L. Stephens 20-Feb 40 39 Golden Age 5-Mar 41 40 11 Western Express December, 2017 been assigned to the Letters. The column headed If the Letter/Sailing sequence had followed number “Letter No.” shows the published number (in 31 correctly, the number for the 2/5/1858 edition brackets if not actually stated on the Letter). If a would be 38, not 28; therefore, “28” is either a surviving example has been recorded, the “Census typographic error in the original publication or a ID No.” refers to the item in the list in the Census new sequence was initiated prior to 2/5/1858, section of this article. There are numbering following number 31. irregularities that require some explanation. (In the analysis that follows, the numerical month/day/year date format is used to enhance readability.) Letter Usage

The first Letter, of which no example is known, was Among the illustrated Letter examples in private reported by the publisher and others to have been hands, all of which have been fully described, there dated 7/20/1856, one day prior to the sailing of are six with 10¢ 1855 stamps and six with 1¢ 1851 Golden Age. There are no known examples of stamps (one of the 1¢ stamps is a replacement). numbered Letters prior to 5/20/1857, and the One of the 10¢ covers is addressed to Panama; the surviving Letters dated in November and December others, including all of the 1¢ covers, are addressed 1856 do not have published numbers. Since the to the East. In addition, there is one stampless 7/20/1856 edition is Letter number 1, the Letter Letter to Mexico, and the latest recorded Letter has dated 5/20/1857 should have been number 21 (the a blank address panel and no postmarks, but there is 21st PMSS sailing); in fact, it is number 22, a letter written inside. The postmarks or cancels according to the Bancroft Library website listing of originate in San Francisco, except for one 1¢ cover its holdings. There is a circumstance involving the postmarked at Benicia, California. 3/20/1856 sailing of the Golden Gate that might explain the numbering anomaly. The Golden Gate departed on 3/20/1857, but the ship hit a rock and returned to port for repair; it departed again three days later. It is possible that a Letter “Postscript,” as Marriott called such a thing, was added to the Letter and sent with the 3/23/1857 second departure. If Marriott counted the Postscript as a separate number in this instance, that would make the 5/20/1857 Letter number 22, not 21.

The other numbering anomaly occurred when the 8/20/1857 and 9/5/1857 Letters were published. Instead of assigning them consecutive numbers, 28 and 29, the number 28 was repeated. There are two Figure 7. San Francisco News Letter number 28 dated known examples each of the 8/20 and 9/5 Letters, September 5, 1857, for the sailing of the PMSS and they are numbered 28. The next Letter (9/21) is California. 1¢ 1851 Type II (Scott 7) pays the domestic printed matter rate. Census ID #16 (a nearly identical numbered 29. No example of the 10/5 Letter is example to the same addressee is ID #18). known, but the next date (10/20) is numbered 31, so it appears that the numbering sequence was not corrected after 28 was used twice. The Letter in Figure 7 is an example of the Letter sent without any written message, thus qualifying The latest recorded Letter date is 2/5/1858. One for the 1¢ printed matter rate. In this case, Letter example appeared in a Schuyler Rumsey auction, number 28 – the duplicate number used for the where it was described as “Number 28.” Another September 5, 1857, sailing of the PMSS California copy is in the Bancroft Library, where it also listed – was sent to Armand Guyol Jr. in New Orleans. as number 28. Four of the illustrated Letters are from the Guyol family correspondence. According to the Tulane

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Table B Census of Surviving Examples The census of the Letter from 1856 to 1858 records The library’s website lists the Letters in its 22 examples (five not illustrated, 17 illustrated), collection by date and number, but provides no including 16 in private hands (two not illustrated, images or details. Peter E. Hanff, deputy director of 14 illustrated) and six held by the Bancroft Library the Bancroft Library, kindly provided details. The at the University of California, Berkeley (three not census list is arranged chronologically by Letter illustrated, three illustrated). date.

Letter without the illustrated address panel or number (unpublished Letter number in brackets) Five recorded (two in private hands; three in the Bancroft Library) Letter Date No. PMSS Vessel Address ID # Note 11/5/1856 [8] Sonora No address 1 Bancroft Library 11/20/1856 [9] John L. Stephens Turner, Boston Mass. 2 10¢ Scott 13 (SF 11/20 cds) 12/20/1856 [11] Sonora No address 3 Bancroft Library 12/20/1856 [11] Sonora Platt, Newark Del. 4 1¢ Scott 7 (SF 12/20 cds) 1/20/1857 [13] Golden Gate No address 5 Bancroft Library Letter with illustrated address panel and edition number 17 recorded (14 in private hands; three in the Bancroft Library) Letter Date No. PMSS Vessel Address ID # Note 5/20/1857 22 Sonora No address 6 Bancroft Library 6/5/1857 23 John L. Stephens Selden, New York N.Y. 7 10¢ Scott 14 (SF 6/5 cds) 6/5/1857 23 John L. Stephens Priest, Loudenville O. 8 1¢ Scott 7 (Benicia 6/19 cds) 6/20/1857 24 Golden Age Hickson Sarles?, New York N.Y. 9 Bancroft Library 6/20/1857 24 Golden Age Ruschenberger, Panama 10 10¢ Scott 13 (SF 6/20 cds) 6/20/1857 24 Golden Age Winslow, Troy N.Y. 11 10¢ Scott 15 (SF 6/20 cds) 7/4/1857 25 Sonora Clarke, New York N.Y. 12 1¢ Scott 7 (SF 9-bar grid) 8/5/1857 27 Golden Age Payne, Stamford Conn. 13 10¢ Scott 15 (SF 8/5 cds) 8/20/1857 28 Sonora Guyol, New Orleans La. 14 10¢ Scott 15 (SF 8/20 cds) SF 8/20 red cds, “20” ms rate, 8/20/1857 28 Sonora Rev. Santillan, Mazatlan, Mexico 15 “ACAPULCO” and “3” hs 9/5/1857 28 (dup) California Guyol, New Orleans La. 16 1¢ Scott 7 (SF 9/5 cds) 9/5/1857 28 (dup) California Johnson, Delhi N.Y. 17 1¢ Scott 7 (SF 9-bar grid) 9/5/1857 28 (dup) California Guyol, New Orleans La. 18 1¢ Scott 7 (SF 9/5 cds) 9/21/1857 29 John L. Stephens Guyol, New Orleans La. 19 1¢ stamp replacement 10/20/1857 31 Sonora Davis, Philadelphia Pa. 20 10¢ Scott 14 (SF 10/20 cds) 2/5/1858 38 (“28”) Sonora No address 21 No postmark 2/5/1858 38 (“28”) Sonora No address 22 Bancroft Library

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University website, Armand Guyol Sr. was born in New Orleans. In 1844 he became a counselor and attorney of law in the state of Louisiana, and in 1853 he served on the Supreme Court of California. He died of cholera in 1876. Guyol’s son, Armand Jr., was born on April 7, 1840, in New Orleans. He worked as clerk and in 1862 volunteered for the Figure 8. San Francisco News Letter number 25 dated July 4, 1857, for the sailing of the Crescent Division, PMSS Sonora. 1¢ 1851 Type II (Scott 7), paying the domestic printed matter rate, is tied by 11th Louisiana San Francisco’s 9-bar square grid cancel, a device similar to the one used in New York City. Battalion, of the Census ID #12. Confederate Army. In 1863 he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant. After the war, he returned to New Orleans.

Another example of the 1¢ rate is shown in Figure 8. In this case, the Letter (number 25, July 4, 1857) was sent to New York City’s general post office. The 9-bar square grid cancel looks very much like the one used at that Figure 9. San Francisco News Letter number 24 dated June 20, 1857, for the sailing of the PMSS Golden Age. 10¢ 1855 Type I (Scott 13), paying the 10¢ rate, but since the Letter is receiving office, but addressed to Panama, it required an additional 10¢ postage, indicated by the San Francisco it was, in fact, “DUE 10” handstamp. The addressee, Dr. W. S. W. Ruschenberger, was a medical officer applied in San on board the U.S. Frigate Independence. Census ID #10. Francisco. Two other examples of the 9-bar square grid used in San The Letter in Figure 9 was stamped with a 10¢ 1855 Francisco are known, including one on a Letter Type I (Scott 13) for the transcontinental letter rate, (Census ID #17) and another on a folded pictorial but since the addressee was located in Panama, the lettersheet addressed to Cherokee Flats, Cal., which 20¢ rate applied. The deficient postage was can only be a San Francisco usage (ex-Risvold). indicated with the large “DUE 10” handstamp used 14 Western Express December, 2017

Figure 10. San Francisco News Letter number 28 (the first of two numbered 28) dated August 20, 1857, for the sailing of the PMSS Sonora. Addressed to Mazatlan, Mexico, with red San Francisco circular datestamp (Aug. 20) and magenta manuscript “20” rate. “ACAPULCO” straightline and “3” reales due handstamp for internal Mexican postage. Census ID #15. at San Francisco. The addressee, Dr. Ruschen- published by Hutchings & Rosenfield at 146 berger, was a U.S. Navy medical officer on board Montgomery Street. It was scheduled for the sailing the U.S. Frigate Independence. There are only two of the PMSS Sonora. This newsletter has the Letters addressed to places outside the United States printer’s imprint of Charles F. Robbins, with an – Panama and Mexico – and this is the only one address at the “corner of Clay and Battery Streets.” with an adhesive stamp. An example of this first edition has not been seen, but the number 2 edition, published on April 5, The other Letter to a destination outside the United 1858, for the sailing of the PMSS John L. Stephens, States is shown in Figure 10. This stampless Letter is located at the Bancroft Library. is addressed to Reverend José Prudencio Santillan, an Indian parish priest in Mazatlan, Mexico. The 20¢ postage was prepaid in San Francisco, as indicated by the red San Francisco “Paid” datestamp and the magenta manuscript “20” rate. When the Letter entered the port of Acapulco, it received the Mexican post office straightline handstamp, and 3 reales internal postage due from the addressee was indicated by the “3” handstamp. Figure 11. The Pictorial News Letter number 2 dated April 5, 1858, for the PMSS John L. Stephens.

The Pictorial News Letter – A Connection? Figure 11 shows the masthead illustration, which closely resembles the illustrated address panel on On March 20, 1858, the first edition of a new the San Francisco News Letter. Of special interest publication, The Pictorial News Letter, was is the U.S. postal rider on a camel, used around the

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time camels were imported for use on the desert Sources route. Also located at the library is the May 5, 1858, edition for the PMSS Sonora. Two of the 1.) Hernandez, Richard A., “Frederick Marriott: A woodcuts in these two newsletters have the initials Forty-Niner Banker and Editor Who Took a ‘Flier’ “A.” and “A.N.,” which correspond to Arthur in Pioneering American Aviation,” Journal of the Nahl’s. The short-lived Pictorial News Letter might West, Vol. II, No. 4 (October 1963) be connected to Marriott. 2.) Stack’s, John J. Ford, Jr. Collection; Coins, Medals and Currency, Part XX, Western Territorial Americana, October 16, 2007, sale catalogue Acknowledgments 3.) University of California at Berkeley Digital Collections The author is grateful to Gordon Eubanks, Jr., and http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/libraries/bancroft- Michael Perlman for their assistance and input in library/ digital-collections compiling the information for this article. However, 4.) California Digital Newspaper Collection the author is solely responsible for any errors or https://cdnc.ucr.edu omissions. Appreciation is also given to David 5.) Genealogy Bank Petruzelli at The Philatelic Foundation and Alfredo https://www.genealogybank.com Frohlich for providing certain images, and to Peter E. Hanff, deputy director of the Bancroft Library, ∞§∞§∞§∞§∞ University of California, Berkeley, for information regarding the library’s holding.

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Top of the World: California’s Highest Post Office and Access to Yosemite’s High Country By Ryan Baum

Figure 1. “Bennettville, Tioga Mining District, Mono County, Cal. Mar 5 1884” postmark; the feature post office of this article.

The initial discovery of gold at Sutter’s Sawmill in the Sierra Foothills in January, 1848 started a pattern of boom towns that fanned north and south in the Sierras over a thirty-five year period. Each of these towns generated postal history through express and post office service. Each of these towns developed contemporary transportation routes for commerce. None, however, is as linked to our enjoyment today of one of the five most visited national parks, yet barely known as even a footnote in western history. While postal history collectors often focus on “firsts” such as the first town in a canyon, the earliest communication from a county, the first express company in an area, this article will focus on a “last,” the last nineteenth century mining Figure 3. Bennettville today from site of mine. town started in the Sierra Nevada. Bennettville was (August, 2016) founded in 1882 on the eastern slope of the Sierra high in Mono County (see Figures 1 through 3). To fully appreciate the story of Bennettville, this Although Bennettville’s post office lasted only two article will provide a geographic orientation (see years, the transportation links which it developed Figure 4, following page), an understanding of the continue to benefit us today as a key transportation mining convergence on the Sierra’s eastern slope, link to the Sierra High Country for commerce and the history and delay of this development, the tourism to Yosemite National Park. eastern capital that financed a corporation, the corporation’s desire for lower cost supply routes, and our continued benefit of this development. This story includes success and failure, greed and charity, and its enduring legacy which we all yet may enjoy.

Figure 2. The Bennettville post office and the Geographic Orientation “Great Sierra Consolidated Silver Company” were tightly inter-twined. And, virtually all known covers from this short-lived post office are related As mining towns radiated out from the initial to the mining enterprise. discovery site in Coloma, prospectors jumped the

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Figure 4. Area of focus is at eastern boundary of Yosemite National Park.

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Figure 5. Wells Fargo cover that came out of eastern Sierra to enter flow in Genoa, Nevada.

Figure 6. Wells Fargo cover that transited to Monitor via Markleeville.

Sierra to its eastern slope in the late 1850s. following page). Further south, prospecting was California saw many towns spring up in what making its way up the Owens Valley as strikes were became Alpine County in the early 1860’s including found in Cerro Gordo in 1865, Chrysopolis, Darwin Monitor, Markleeville and Mt. Bullion (Figures 5 in 1874, and Mammoth in 1877 (Figures 8 through and 6). Across the Carson Valley, Nevada saw the 11, following two pages). Over the ridge from Comstock strike on the face of Mt. Davidson in Mono Lake, Bodie was initially founded in 1859 1859 followed by Aurora in 1860 (Figure 7, and blossomed in the 1870s. Up a different canyon

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Figure 7. Wells Fargo cover that entered mails in Aurora, Nevada Territory.

Figure 8. Wells Fargo cover inbound to Cerro Gordo.

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Figure 9. Wells Fargo cover inbound to Chrysopolis via Aurora.

Figure 10. Cover via US mail from Mammoth, CA.

Figure 11. Wells Fargo cover that transited Darwin, CA.

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Figure 12. Image of Lundy Canyon. from Mono Lake, Lundy began in 1879 (Figure 12). would have also hosted the sound of drills, mine The development from the north and from the south blasting, and the jingle of draft teams hauling was taming the last remote stretches of California wagons over a newly built trans-Sierra road. not much different from what America was experiencing as the east and west converged with Sheepherder Lode Find the “closing of the frontier.” The first account of Anglo-Americans crossing The town site of Bennettville is located in the Inyo Mono Pass was a group of soldiers and civilians National Forest in Mono County just east of the pursuing renegade Indians in 1852. The party found Sierra ridge line and adjacent to Tuolumne County. the eastern side of Mono Pass extremely harsh and The location is nearly 10,000 feet in elevation and difficult on animals given the sharp shards of the currently accessible by California State Route 120 decaying rock. This party returned with reports of and a couple of miles drive towards Saddle Bag minerals but given the location’s extreme Lake where the Junction Campground and parking remoteness and opportunities closer, no member did lot afford the opportunity to take a mild hike. further investigations. During a summer visit today, the site holds mountain sounds of a gurgling stream, strong One of the members of that first party finally breezes racing through the pines, and the occasional returned in 1860. He found what he believed to be a backpacker stopping to rest by a couple of rich ore body and staked a claim by leaving a notice reconstructed buildings. During its heyday, the site on a tin can along with a pickax. Prior to filing a

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Figure 13. Aerial orientation of Tioga, Lundy and Bodie with Mono Lake in foreground. claim back in Tuolumne County, however, he heard not until 1878 that the sheepherder filed a claim on of the strike in Aurora and raced across the desert the area. (1) This was the year that the Tioga Mining leaving behind his claim and attention. District was founded as the Sheepherder Lode filing gave rise to other claims in the area (Figure 13). Fifteen years later a sheepherder was in the high Sierra tending a flock for the summer. During his Was the claim filing finally prompted by the reports days, he explored the mountain areas having heard of the “Mammoth” gold find further south? Was the of earlier finds. In 1875, he came across a rock filing prompted by the continued development of outcropping that showed indications of minerals the Lundy area mines just to the north? Whatever along with a weathered tin can and pickax. At the the reason, the filing spurred greater interest in the end of the season, he brought his samples back to district from investors across the country. town but there was little interest. During following summers, he continued to explore this area and he Great Sierra Consolidated Silver Company even sank a shallow shaft to see if he could find better samples. While we often think that in the The host rock of Tioga Mining district is primarily heady days of mining booms everyone filed claims granite, not an easy rock for individual prospectors on even the smallest indication of minerals, it was to work. An initial attempt to consolidate claims in

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the Tioga District was taken by an undercapitalized company, the Great Sierra Mining Company early in 1881. (2) This company began to further sink a shaft at the very top of the Sierra, an area that was called Dana (Figure 14).

By summer, eastern interests heard of this area and decided to invest by recapitalizing the mining company as the Great Sierra Consolidated Silver Company in November, 1881. (3) Consolidated was added to the name as it further increased its land holdings through acquisition of adjacent claims. The company was incorporated in Illinois because two early investors were from Chicago. Most of the capital, however, came from Massachusetts. Quickly the investors selected Thomas Bennett, Jr, of New Bedford as its president. Bennett was semi- retired from textiles where he had studied textile mills in the American South and brought the concept with further improvements to Massachusetts. (4)

Upon the company’s consolidation, the company strategy then become focused on drilling horizontal- ly into the mountain to intersect the ore body, instead of sinking a shaft straight down. With this change in strategy, the town site of Dana was abandoned for a more favorable glen just east of the crest with access to the rock face into which they would drill. With this new location, the company applied for a post office with the anticipation of heavy future demand from the company and the future town’s residents. As a corporate town the Figure 14. Great Sierra Silver Mine check before city was named after its president, Bennettville consolidation (front of check horizontally at top and (Figure 15, following page). various docketing notations and signatures on reverse shown vertically below).

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Figure 15. Bennettville “Then.”

In March, 1882, the Bennettville post office began operation as California’s highest post office at nearly 10,000 feet in elevation. (5) Bennettville was the replacement post office for Tioga that is listed as operating from May, 1880, to June, 1881 with no cancellations known. (6) Just as with all other supplies, the post office route transited two northern ridges over 12,000 feet and deep canyons bottoming 5,000 below the ridges. The trail to Lundy was not accessible to mules so mail was carried by personal pack (Figure 16). From Lundy, mail and supplies would route down Lundy Canyon and along the telegraph line to Cottonwood Canyon on its way to Bodie. From Bodie, the mail would join the Figure 16. Lundy during mining period. Route to mainstream with most routing up through Carson Bennettville was up ridge in upper left of image. City to Reno and then via railroad to the rest of the nation.

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Transit Times as Measured on Envelopes William Priest. This indicates the report was written five days before the mail was sent out from The Bennettville post office had four postmasters Bennettville. The cover posted from Bodie appears over its short life. Official dates for the post office to have docketing referencing Bennettville on are listed as March 3, 1882, through November 19, March 20 and then Bodie on March 23 indicating 1884. Amazingly, all of the known covers are three days for William Priest or another employee addressed to the president in New Bedford, MA. carrier to get through to Bodie. Although collectors suspect that employees and other residents of the hamlet would have sent Perhaps the most intriguing indicators are on a personal correspondence, no covers have been couple of the covers’ backs. The March 4, 1884, found to other names or locations. cancelled cover has a bold, almost over-inked strike, from Bennettville. The reverse of this cover then The envelopes provide a fascinating glimpse of has a shadow of the postal cancellation with the speed of information, considering the president and “TVIL” of BENNETTVILLE and the “OUN” of other major investors were awaiting updates on “COUNTY” visible (Figures 17 and 18). Likewise, when the tunneling would intercept the major silver the November 21, 1883, cancelled cover shows a body. The table at the bottom of this page shows smudged strike. The back of this cover is the only dates of covers with their outbound cancella- tion and their New Bedford receiving back stamp.

The covers also impart other information through the docketing of Bennett before he filed them. The cover with cancellation of July 10, 1883 is docketed as Report 24 on July 9. This indicates the relative frequency of reports given the corporation was formed 18 months earlier. The cover with February 9, 1884 Figure 17 (left). Shadow of cancellation. Figure 18 (right). cancellation is docketed as February 5 from Ink smudge from an earlier cancellation.

Great Sierra Consolidated Silver Mines Correspondence Sample (Author’s Collection)

Sending Receiving Send Date Delivery Date Days in Transit Post Office Post Office

5/25/1883 (Fri) 6/2/1883 8 Bronsons New Bedford 7/10/1883 (Tue) 7/18/1883 8 Bennettville New Bedford 8/27/1883 (Mo) 9/6/1883 10 Bennettville New Bedford 11/21/1883 (Wed) 11/29/1883 8 Bennettville New Bedford 2/9/1884 (Sat) 2/19/1884 10 Bennettville New Bedford 3/5/1884 (Wed) 3/22/1884 17 Bennettville New Bedford 3/23/1884 (Sun) 3/31/1884 8 Bodie New Bedford 6/30/1884 (Mo) 7/11/1884 11 Bennettville New Bedford 4/7/1885 (Tue) 4/15/1885 8 Lundy New Bedford These covers from the author’s collection are NOT a full census of Bennettville covers

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cover that shows remnants of a wax seal and then has an ink smudge where the front cancellation would line up if the envelope were in a stack of other recently cancelled envelopes. Would these ink smudges have come from the postmaster testing the cancellation on another piece of paper before applying to a single envelope? Or, could they be shadows of other outbound letters perhaps addressed to someone other than Thomas Bennett? These ghosts and smudges either emphasize the vanity of the postal cancellation or demonstrate that more mail transited the Bennettville post office than just company correspondence.

Desire for Lower Cost Supply Route and Construction of Great Sierra Wagon Road

One of the Great Sierra Consolidated Silver Mine’s largest orders of heavy equipment was placed with San Francisco firms in late 1881 (Figure 19). The equipment was scheduled to arrive before snow melt in order to allow its freighting firm to transport it from Lundy to Bennettville by sliding it over the snow and ice as no major road better than a trail existed. The eight tons of heavy equipment took three months during the winter of 1882 just to transit the nine miles from Lundy to Bennettville. Figure 19. Heavy equipment left at mining opening (photo taken August, 2016)

The great cost of the supply order, combined with management’s confidence in long-term viability of An interesting cover appeared a few years back in a the mine, led the company to seek a charter from the Schuyler Rumsey Auction that was not previously State of California to construct a toll road from the identified as linked to the Great Sierra Consolidated western side of the Sierra to link with the Big Oak Silver Mine. The cover was posted from the wagon Flat Road at roughly where Crane Flat is today. The stop of Bronsons on the western slope. Given the company management was so optimistic of this handwriting to the addressee of William Bennett route that they envisioned their crossing at Tioga and the docketing in pink as “Barney May 23, Pass and the road as eventually leading to a new 1883” and pencil as “No. 1,” this cover likely trans-Sierra railroad line and future additional rail contained an early report on the spring start of link to the east. construction of the Great Sierra Wagon Road by Chief Engineer Barney. This cover is the first one Surveys for the wagon road began in fall 1882 with listed in the table of sample correspondence construction formally taking place in 1883. provided on page 26. Instrumental in the road construction were Charles Barney as Engineer and William Priest as Assistant With great fanfare the wagon road connected to Engineer. (7) Barney was a Harvard educated Bennettville in early Fall 1883 (see Figures 20a and engineer who served as both the road construction 20b on following page). The employees and engineer and later the chief mining surveyor and investors had great confidence in the mine. Now engineer. William Priest maintained a station on the with a road connecting to the more gradual western Big Oak Flat Road and was used for road slope for supplies and a tunnel that was 1200 feet in maintenance following its initial construction. the mountainside, the crew was able to begin their

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Figure 20. (a & b, at top of page) Images of Great Sierra Wagon Road today, and (c, lower center) the western terminus of the Great Sierra Wagon Road was the Big Oak Flat Road at top left of map. 28 Western Express December, 2017 preparation for the winter dormancy. Supplies were wagon road. This is the last cover listed in the table packed and laid to rest in the storage buildings. of sample Great Sierra covers (page 26). Residents began their fall retreat to lower elevations before winter storms would isolate the site for The eastern investors eventually opted to orchestrate months. a corporate restructuring in 1887 to clear out the western investors who failed to provide more Suspension Becomes Permanent capital. The eastern group conducted a court auction in Mono County by using their own loan In early spring, 1884, workers began reopening the notes to buy the mining property and equipment for mine area and restoring the wagon road from winter a new entity with the western investors cleared out. storms and spring run-off. While all seemed normal Despite the restructuring, over the next fifty years and encouraging at the mine and town site, the only modest attempts were made to restart the mine company was going through a difficult period. The with the last feasibility inspection taking place in company had been organized with non-assessable the 1930s. stock. Although most stock had been bought by associated easterners, a block of stock had also been Benefit of Opening Tuolumne Meadows purchased by a couple of westerners who had visited the area. The company continued to bore The story of Bennettville, its mine, and its postal into the mountainside, pay its employees, and order history could easily have faded into history as just supplies. Despite reports from engineer Barney that another interesting historical footnote. The Great the resources were “so large, that such a report Sierra Consolidated Silver Mine, however, endowed would be considered an exaggeration,” (8) it had not us with a lasting legacy of access to the High Sierra. yet produced a single ounce of silver. To continue What began as a wagon road to reduce mining to finance its expansion in 1884, the company called supply costs quickly became a topic of discussion its shareholders several times to voluntarily loan upon the mine’s closure as a means for access to fifty cents per share in return for notes. After Yosemite’s backcountry. The connection from several of these calls and subscriptions by the Crane Flat through Tuolumne Meadows across eastern shareholders, the decision was made to Tioga Pass provided a tantalizing opportunity to temporarily suspend continued tunneling until the connect with the Mono Basin and Lee Vining. western shareholders also advanced more funds. Since its initial discovery, Yosemite Valley has long On July 3, 1884, the Great Sierra Consolidated been a draw to tourists to see its spectacular granite Silver Mine suspended below ground operations cliffs and amazing collection of waterfalls. While with a tunnel now nearly 1800 feet into the today’s tourists can travel in comfort, early tourists mountain—a third of a mile! This date may have found their travel as a complete adventure. Well been selected as mining camps usually did not past the turn of the twentieth century, tourists operate on July 4, as observance of Independence continued to journey to Yosemite via horse drawn Day. Whatever the reason for the date, the stagecoaches. Excerpts from a contemporary letter presumption was that this suspension would only be describe one such journey in 1901 (Figure 21, top of temporary. Instructions were given to again prepare following page) equipment and supplies for storage. As the town was vacated in mid-November, its post office I had a great trip over but enjoyed it until the stopped operation. bumps of the stage commenced… I slept precious little… The eastern investors continued to desire reports on One of the ladies was terrible sick. I offered the mine even after its suspension. One cover in my flask but the husband declined…he got the 1885 is clearly written to the president and straight stuff for her at Priests and at postmarked in Lundy. The side docketing of Crockers’. “Redlingshoffer April, 6, 1885” implies this was an The stage packed & the poor horses had all early Spring report on the status of the mine and they could do…

29 Western Express December, 2017

Figure 21. Envelope and dateline of letter from 1901 on Crocker’s Station stationery describing stage ride to Yosemite. Postmarked Sequoia, now Crane Flat.

Figure 22. Corner card from William Priest’s hotel in Big Oak Flat.

30 Western Express December, 2017

The Crocker family also maintained a station and inn on the western side. Following Priest’s death in 1900, the Crockers were appointed as agents for the Great Sierra Wagon Road. When the government began claiming the wagon road as abandoned, it was the Crockers who contested the claim and filed statements about the road’s maintenance and amount of travel as proof of its passability.

The earliest proponent for using Tioga Pass for tourism was in 1894 from the Lundy Homer Mining Index. (9) The paper was witnessing the continued decline in local mining and likely assumed that tourism would help offset the mining decline. Congress held several hearings on the status of the Great Sierra Wagon Road over a twenty year period and whether it could acquire the road through abandonment proceedings or purchase. The State of California also became interested in the road with the dawn of the automobile and view that a road up Tioga Pass was inevitable despite the canyon’s talus that prevented a firm roadbed.

The linking of east and west slopes of the Sierra envisioned by Thomas Bennett in 1882 finally took place in 1915 when Stephen Mather, Assistant Secretary of Interior and early booster of auto travel, coordinated the private purchase of the Great Sierra Wagon Road and its sale to Yosemite National Park Figure 23. Image of road section on western side of for one dollar. This purchase allowed the approach to Yosemite still called Priest’s Grade. connection of a state highway already built between the Mono Basin and Tioga Pass to the road through The letter continues with gossip and then banter Tuolumne Meadows with access to the lower about the Army soldiers who were then the elevations of Yosemite. Almost immediately this guardians of the park. The writer then discusses connection sparked a Grand Tour featured by the how she hoped to arrange a fishing side-trip with railroads with schedules that permitted passengers one of the soldiers who had struck her fancy. from San Francisco or Los Angeles to take trains to debarkation points such as Merced where they could This letter is interesting in many ways. It serves as then board autostages for Yosemite (Figures 24-28, a contemporary account of the travel experience in following pages). The trip could then loop through Yosemite and a young lady’s impressions of her the back country, down to Mono Lake, north to fellow passengers and park employees. This also Lake Tahoe, and then back to a railhead. brings forward the names Crocker and Priest, two names from the Great Sierra Wagon Road. What began as a dream of riches to be taken from Remember that earlier William Priest had served as the mountains finally came to fruition not by Assistant Engineer of the Great Sierra Wagon Road tunneling into the mountains but by enabling people and continued to maintain a station and inn on the to travel over the mountains and to enjoy their western side. Priest was responsible for road undisturbed natural beauty. A road that was maintenance of the Great Sierra Wagon Road initially viewed as a utilitarian means to reduce through 1900 (Figure 22, prior page, and Figure 23). costs for a mine turned out to be the real enduring

31 Western Express December, 2017

Figure 24. Map of Tioga Road as it spans today’s Yosemite National Park.

Figure 25 (left). Cover of tourist guide to travel options to Yosemite National park in the 1920s.

Figure 26 (right). Time schedule of autostages completing loop of Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.

32 Western Express December, 2017

Figure 27. Tour guide image looking east of areas transited by tour options with Mono Lake in distance.

Figure 28. Tourism continues to capitalize on the Tioga connection including the former Tioga Hotel in Merced, CA.

33 Western Express December, 2017

7.) Trexler, Keith A., The Tioga Road: a History, 1883-1961, 1980, Yosemite Natural History Association in Association with the National Park Service, Yosemite National Park, CA, page 5. 8.) Patera, Alan H., Bennettville, op. cit., page 21 9.) Trexler, op. cit., page 7.

Full Bibliography:

1.) Romantic Heritage of Inyo, Mono and Alpine, 1966, Interstate Tel Co, Victorville, CA. 2.) Hubbard, Douglass H. Ghost Mines of Yosemite. 1958, Awani Press, Fredericksburg, TX. 3.) Patera, Alan H., Lundy, 2000, Western Places, Lake Grove, OR. 4.) Patera, Alan H., Bennettville, and the Tioga Mining District, 2003, Western Places, Lake Grove, OR. 5.) Patera, Edward L., and Harold E. Salley, History Figure 29. National Forest sign at Bennettville of California Post Offices, 1849-1990 / H.E. Salley: Trailhead. Includes Branches and Stations, Rural Free Delivery Routes, Navy Numbered Brances, Highway treasure. Although the road has been realigned and Railway Post Offices, Edited by Edward L. several times since 1915, countless sightseers today Patera, 1991, The Depot, Lake Grove, OR. benefit from backcountry access of California State 6.) Schlichtmann, Margaret, and Irene Dakin Paden, Highway 120 over Tioga Pass made possible by the The Big Oak Flat Road: an account of freighting failed investments of nineteenth century mining from Stockton to Yosemite Valley, 1959, Holme speculators and their desire for lower transportation Book Company, Oakland, CA:. costs (Figure 29). Bennettville postal history is not 7.) Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park. Hearings about just one small town with the highest before subcommittee of the committee on the Public California post office but about the human desire for Lands, House of Representatives, March 18, 1912, communication and connections. on H.R. 21718 and 21719, Statements by Hon. John B. Curtin ... and Mr. Aldis B. Browne, 1912, References: Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. 8.) Trexler, Keith A., The Tioga Road: a History, 1.) Patera, Alan H, Bennettville, and the Tioga 1883-1961, 1980, Yosemite Natural History Mining District, 2003, Western Places, Lake Grove, Association in cooperation with the National Park OR, page 5. Service, Yosemite National Park, CA. 2.) Ibid., page 8 3.) Ibid., page 10 ∞§∞§∞§∞§∞ 4.) https://www.whalingmuseum.org/explore/library/ finding-aids/mss9 5.) Patera, Edward L., and Harold E. Salley, History of California Post Offices, 1849-1990 / H.E. Salley: Includes Branches and Stations, Rural Free Delivery Routes, Navy Numbered Brances, Highway and Railway Post Offices, Edited by Edward L. Patera, 1991, The Depot, Lake Grove, OR, page 18. 6.) Ibid., page 215

34 Western Express December, 2017

Contents of the Cover By David F. New

The letter contained in this cover, postmarked “Leavenworth City, K.T. Jan 13, 1860,” is the subject of this installment of “Contents of the Cover”. An otherwise non-descript looking cover, it bears contents worth reading!

Leavenworth City Jany 12, 1860 goes full of passengers. The last run that went out took an Episcopalian Minister and his 3 daughters As temed [esteemed] Nephew all young woman and niece for Denver City They are now carrying out passengers for 100 $ hundred. Although you and B I have not answered my last I considered to write you a short letter, my health Write to me when you intend to start and what way about as usual, no news in our city of any especial you design going and Whither “B I.” Thinks of interest times still very dull. We have had extremely going out in Spring if David or Nell is going back cold and pleasant winter weather. We have had 2 let me know what has come of Jonathan Taylor I serious fires in the past ten days destroying a have heard from him , give best regards to Mrs. splendid flouring mill and one of the largest grocery Stout, and all enquiring friends. stores in the city loss some 60 thousand dollars. I have no especial news a part of our legislatures The news from the Mines continues flattering, I will are sitting at Lawrence and a fragment at have been here 3 or so weeks and with a no of Lecompton they all met at Lecompton they others contemplates starting early in the spring. I Republicans adjourned to Lawrence the Gov. vetoed was told yesterday that Jewitt has sold 1200$ that gourmet and they passed it over his head by a dollars worth of property to different man of our two third voted while portion of the democrats was city since he came in he sold Clark from Brown Co. absent the democratic rump still remain an Le a Banker of this place a corner lot in Denver City Compton but not enough to make a quorum. I for $600 $ dollars he is going to build and start a believed this is enough report at Lawrence to pass Bank on it in fact all the news from there are most bills by a 2/3 majority if so old Sam‘s signature will encouraging an acquaintance of mine went out a not be necessary.. I send you a paper write on few weeks since he writes back to a friend if a man Receipt of this had 1000$ then this winter he could make a nice thing out of it speculating in property. The Pikes Ever yours E. C. Stout Peak is still running and most of the time comes and

35 Western Express December, 2017

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Nebraska Territory Postal History by Charles W. Winter, 1999, 176 pages, cloth, 147 halftone and hundreds of line drawings, $35.00

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36 Western Express December, 2017

Several Pages from a Western Express Exhibit By George Kramer

Alaska 5e~nnings, the Cariboo Gold Rush and Victoria, Vancouver rsland 1862-1869.

Although the postal department anthori7..ed mail service About this section: between Sitka, Alaska Territory and San F1·ancisco in July, 1867, only four or five covers can be proven to have originated Laid out 2 x 4 vertically, in Alaska Territory before 1870. Possibly less covers are known the left side shows all which arrived in the same time period. water routes, and the right side emphasizes inland routes.

Gulf of Alaska

Kodiak, Kodiak Island

To "Russia America"

"Russia or Russian America" was a term used by the Postal Department for Alaska Territory.

Jidd,r/( «4'~~ Ptw-r?M ~· &.~' c::e..- ...---~~=:::::~

Ch:velaud, Ohio August 14, 1868 - overland· San Francisco Alcatraz Island, California • San Francisco August 22 Sika, Alaska Territory · Kodiak Island April 8, 1869

This letter was written to a soldier of the 2nd U.S. Artillery who had been stationed at Alcatraz Island. He was transferred to Fort Kodiak, and this letter was fonl'arded first to Sika by the postal contract, and then to Fort Kodiak, probably by a supply ship.

37 Western Express December, 2017

When on August 17,1862, prospector I r·, . 't· ~ ~ -·-· ! / / The Cariboo gold region was 400 Billy Barker struck major gold . ~1 . &=--.l t· /( .r;· / miles beyond the head of naviga­ 1 deposits at the head of Williams \ .~ ' , If?;'/ t-r' t{ / 'l tion on the Fraser River. It was Creek, he culminated probes of oth- ;1-~< "~ 1\ k la.'f.':"ktd/1 1 ! ' located northeast of the Ft. Hope "v· ' ers who had come to the area as early ·l·'1~ ~-\~._,. , · ""r -~-~1!ri!.,.._ ~ I Yale area, which was the scene as 1859. The 50 miles surrounding '~~ ~ ~. . ~ -....= of the "Fraser River" gold rush what would become Barkerville con- <.. ~ , ; •• i~ ;' ~~~ /. 'i J of a few years prior. taine~ th~ greatest. and richest ~~ld ·' ~~ ·· 1· _s;.! 1 ,/ depOSits lD the history of Bnbsh . r _ 1862 woodcut showing the ~- (.·~ ... Colombia. Thus began the ~~~/ ·· ~ ·· ·~. · "one mule wide" trail. "Cariboo" gold rush. . 1~ <~ - ·-·

In 1862, Francis Jones Barnard established a one-horse pony express with himself as sole rider, serving the Cariboo from Yale, where he met with Dietz & Nelson Express which provided services between New Westminster and Yale. $1 per lettercarried or delivered.

Wheeler's Express - Marysville, Cal . - Wells, Fargo & Co. thru San Francisco - ship thru toNe" Westminster, B.C .. - Dietz & Nelsons Express - Yale - Barnad's Cariboo Express- Williams Cree ' Beginning in December, 1863, Samuel and Simeon Wheeler operated this Fraser Ri ver express for several months. They ran between the Gibsonville, California min- ing camps and Marysville where they connected with Wells, Fargo & Co..

The Cariboo Wagon Road: " Upon com­ pletion of the Cariboo Road in 1863, the trip became easier and faster. The journey, however, remained strenuous and it was not until 1865 that a wagon road finally reached Barkerville. Even with its final completion, the average stage time from Yale to Barkerville was still four days." (Howay, 1914, p. 131).

Photo: Frederick Dally, circa 1867

38 Western Express December, 2017

Mossman's Express (1861- 1863) In his biography A Pony Expressman's Recollections, Isaac Mossman stated: "Wi th only one pony,and $5 in money and one pair of blankets, but with plenty of grit, I left Walla Walla about the 5th of April, and started for the djggiogs" (the Oro Fino mines in Nez Perces country at Pierce City. - now Idaho). I crossed the Snake ' river near the junction of Clearwater and followed the Clearwater to.... to the foot of the Bitterroot Mountru ns . . . worked though three or four feet of snow and found 30 or 40 miners at Pierce City. l received a lot of letters to carry back. to Walla Walla at 50 cents each." October U, 1861

,lfo~~mau 'SJ ~xptt~~] I NEZ ' PERCES ~IN'ES. II •

~§a~ ·"' ' This cover shows his first period. It was probably taken at the mining area and posted at Wallepta (changed to Walla Walla September 8, 1862} for Portland "About this time. I took. in Joaquin Miller as a minority partner. Soon after that the Salmon Ri ver mines were discovered, and I put Miller on the route from Lewiston to Florence City, in the Salmon River mines while I rode between Walla Walla, Lewiston and the Oro Fino." Miller left after awhile and be took in other partners, one of whom gambled off $2000 of compa­ ny funds, then skipping off. "One rusaster after another overtook me and in June, 1863, i was forced to close out to Wells, Fargo & Co, . .. onJy about $1000 ahead for my two years work." September ll, 1862

This cover is from his second period. It was taken at Lewistown , brought into Walla Wall transferred it to another express company which carried it to Portland for postinlg_J~~aiiiifi:e

39 Western Express December, 2017

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40 CALIFORNIA MONO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Estate Collections Wanted

Mark Baker P.O. Box 1210 Covers Wanted for Personal Collection

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Phone: (530) 647-9025 Michael A. Kent P.O. Box 2466 Buying & Selling Stamps, Covers, Postcards, Old Deeds, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 Documents, Revenue Checks & Paper Ephemera; California & Nevada Photos Phone: (760) 497-7348 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: goldrushpaper.com

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This important auction features the George J. Kramer award-winning collection of Western Trails and Routes. The collection was fonned over the last 35 years with many unique and rare Western E xpress usages. We will hold this sale in conjunction with Westpex: 2018, April27-29. To receive a copy of the hardbound catalog for this specialized auction, please send $20.

47 Kearny Street Please visit our website to view upcoming auctions and Schuyler : sale information: Suite 500 Rumsey : San Francisco www.rumse yauctions.com Philatelic : • California 94108 email: [email protected] Auctions : t: 415 781 5127 • f: 415 781 5128