Source: SRI International (2002) http://www.sri.com/policy/csted/reports/economics/fedex/

Mail Delivery Times between New York and San Francisco, 1840-2000 (in days)

Delivering a parcel between New York and San Francisco in the early 1840s took about 180 days by carriage wagons. The first use of a maritime road relying on an overland route through the Panama peninsula in 1847 reduced delivery times to 30 days. In 1859, a combination of rail to St. Joseph, Missouri and the Pony Express to San Francisco reduced delivery times to 14 days. As the transcontinental railway was completed in 1869, 7 days were required. The first use of air mail services in the 1920 improved the service to 4 days and jet planes reduced delivery times to less than 1 day in 1973.

Copyright © 1998-2008, Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Economics & Geography, Hofstra University. For personal or classroom use ONLY. This material (including graphics) is not public domain and cannot be published, in whole or in part, in ANY form (printed or electronic) and on any media without consent. Permission MUST be requested prior to use.