 Birch was awarded the first contract for overland service on the "Southern Route", designated Route 8076.This contract required a semi-monthly service in four-horse coaches, scheduled to leave San Antonio and San Diego on the ninth and the 24th of each month, with 30 days allowed for each trip.Birch envisioned that at New Orleans, one could take a five-times-a-week mail steamer to to Indianola, Texas.