Public transport began early in America but developed slowly. As early as 1696 a hackney coach was in operation along the Bowery, in New York City, and in 1716, stages ran from Boston to Newport, R. I. Public coaches, however, were not common in America until after the mid-18th century. Most of the early stages were actually covered wagons with benches inside, and these could not properly be called coaches. By the 1760s some of these wagon bodies were hung on leather thoroughbraces, and the conventional wagon tops were replaced by flat roofs on slender pillars. The driver still sat inside on the front bench. Most of these stage-wagons seated about 12 people on four benches, and only the last bench, in the rear, had a back. Entry was gained through the open front of the wagon.
Later Developments
Shortly before 1820 an oval-bodied stagecoach was developed, having a rounded top, a door in one side, an outside driver's seat, and thoroughbrace-suspension on a 3-perch running gear, somewhat reminiscent of the berlin carriage. About a decade later the famous American mail coach was developed almost simultaneously by J. S. Abbot, then employed by Lewis Downing of Concord, N. H., and by several carriage builders in Troy, N. Y. Known as Concord coaches and Troy coaches, the two were almost identical, having thoroughbrace-suspension, swell-sided bodies, flat tops equipped with a luggage rail, an additional luggage rack behind, and a driver's seat high on the front of the coach. Both sides of the coaches had doors, and the passengers faced one another on two transverse seats, with one or two cushioned benches in between for additional passengers. These coaches held from 6 to 16 passengers, exclusive of those who might occupy seats on the roof. Decoration of the exteriors was lavish and brilliant.
After 1800 nearly all the principal cities as far west as Pittsburgh, Pa., were connected by stage lines, and from 1800 to 1840, stagecoaches provided the only means of cross-country travel for a large percentage of the population. In 1832, 106 stage lines ran out of Boston alone. Even after the development of the railroad, in the mid-1800s, coaches continued in importance. There were thousands of them serving beyond and between the railroads, particularly in the west where the railroads were widely separated. Most of these coaches also carried the U. S. mails. During the 19th century the speeds and fares for coach travel varied according to the period and locality, generally running between 4 to 12 miles (6-20 km) an hour at a fare of 3 to 15 cents per mile. Production of coaches did not cease in the United States until about 1910, and service in some remote areas continued as late as the 1920s.
