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Figure 12. Hart’s Stage Station is shown as Lyon’s Station in Township 3N, Range 16W, Section 12, on
this 1875 General Land Office map. At the bottom-right can be seen “San Fernando Pass.

Four months before Butterfield’s Overland Mail Company started service, Daily Alta
California correspondent William A. Wallace was on one of Phineas Banning’s stage-
coaches for a trip to Fort Tejon. In his report dated May 20, 1858, and published May 29,
1858, he wrote the following for Hart’s stage station:

“I took a trip to the Tejon the other day, with Banning. We started at 4 A.M., and the
fog enveloped us till we passed San Fernando. We lowered ourselves down the mountains,
somewhat more carefully than Banning’s usual custom. We took the horses out, and led
them down; while the wheels of the carriage are locked, and Buchanan, and Mac and I,
eased it down. Half a mile from the Pass, we came to old Hart’s place. He came out with a

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