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Erected by the Government of Canada The Pony Express From February until November, 1849, when the telegraph office in Halifax was opened, news from Great Britain to the United States brought by the Cunard steamers was expressed for the Associated Press and a rival organization from Halifax to Digby Gut, by riders who changed at Kentville but had fresh mounts every twelve miles of the 144 mile route; carried by steamer to Saint John and thence despatched to its destination by telegraph. |
The author, a long-time correspondent for this newspaper, is honorary president of the Historical Association of Annapolis Royal, a former president (for 3 years), and former secretary of the association (for 33 years).
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The Government of Nova Scotia (sic) Pony Express From February until November, 1849, when the telegraph office was opened in Halifax, news from Great Britain to the United States, brought by the Cunard steamers, was expressed for the Associated Press and a rival organization, from Halifax to Digby Gut, by riders who changed at Kentville but had fresh mounts every 12 miles on the route; carried by steamer to Saint John and despatched to its destination by telegraph. |
Mr. Rankin said in his address:
The significance of what transpired during the earlier period increased over subsequent years until today a great co-operative known as the Canadian Press extends to the remote parts of the world, has come into being. There is no more highly competitive business in the world than the newspaper business, yet here we found a group of publishers banding together to bring raw material — the lifeblood of their various enterprises — to the same city in which they fought each other, tooth and nail, for readers for their publications. Nowhere in the business world will you find a similar parallel.
Mr. Rankin also said:
A free press was the strongest asset a nation could have ... Nova Scotia played a prominent part in its development.
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Some of the details in this article are open to question, in particular the missing bridge. Other sources tell the story of the horse making a great leap over a gap due to a swing span being left open overnight, which is not the same as the bridge having been "swept away." |
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