The American West as a Land of Opportunity

The West is depicted as a place of economic promise, where a boy can rise from humble beginnings to wealth and fame through hard work, hunting contracts, cattle ranching, and show business.

Cody sees the high wages ($40 per month in gold) and the chance to work as an extra hand as a great opportunity, despite the risks. The freighting business offers a path to independence and adventure.

Cody and Rose's attempt to found a town and become millionaires illustrates the speculative boom-and-bust cycle of frontier enterprise.

Cody secures a lucrative contract as a buffalo hunter, demonstrating the economic opportunities available in the West.

The theft and resale of government stock highlight the economic opportunism and lawlessness that characterized frontier life.