The West

Never in the history of the world has there been a place like the American West. The pristine uncharted land, its natural beauty, blessed with veritable mountains of gold, silver, and copper. It was as if the Almighty had decreed this land as a place to create a nation like none other before. Americans who’d never seen mountains higher than the Appalachians gazed in awe at the Rocky Mountains with peaks reaching over 14,000 feet. So steep a mountain goat had to shut his eyes and walk sideways. The Plains Indians in all their splendor & regalia, complex religions and culture. Their horsemanship and fighting ability made them the greatest light cavalry in the world. The other Indigenous tribes with their diverse cultures, languages and religions added to the wonderful mystique of the new lands.

The West produced genuine folk heroes like mountain men, plainsmen, explorers, soldiers, prospectors, gunfighters, lawmen, outlaws and cowboys.

The rocky wilderness of the American West turned out to be the richest treasure trove of natural resources in the history of the civilized world. And the chance to get rich quick as a uniquely American article of faith was virtually born in the West. With a single lucky break, one could instantly make more money than he could lend or spend in a lifetime. “If ya stumble on a rock don’t cuss it, cash it. Window curtains assayed out to $10 a ton after a dust storm; and if ya wash yer face in the Hassayampa River ya can pan 4 oz. of gold dust from yer whiskers.” Wherever there was a rumor and a hole in the ground they built a town around it. Each claimed it was sitting atop the Mother Lode. The rush to riches created one the greatest mass migrations of Greenhorns since the Children of Israel set out in search of Canaan.

For the first time in history the finder got to keep what he found. Up to then, treasure was claimed by the king or ruler. If they ruled the treasure was a “miracle” the finder only received 10%. If it was mined, the ruler claimed their “Royal Quinto” or 20%.

In Europe the land was owned by the wealthy or the rulers. In America people could move West where for a small fee land was free for the taking. There were great personal freedoms, and their stories became legend, shaping our perception of being free. Income taxes didn’t exist until the 20th century.