Roughing It · Chapter
The Birth of Nevada Territory explained
Twain recounts the early history of Nevada, originally part of Utah as Carson County, and the tensions between Mormon settlers and American emigrants.
What happens
Twain recounts the early history of Nevada, originally part of Utah as Carson County, and the tensions between Mormon settlers and American emigrants. The discovery of silver in 1858 brought a flood of Californians, leading to the formation of a temporary territorial government under Governor Roop, later supplanted by a federally appointed governor, Nye. The chapter details the struggles of the new territorial government, including financial difficulties, the generosity of Old Abe Curry in providing a legislative hall, and the absurd bureaucratic conflicts with the U.S. Treasury over expenses like printing, wood-sawing, and penknives.
Themes in this chapter
Get-Rich-Quick Schemes and Speculation
The frenzy over silver mines and toll-road franchises illustrates the speculative mania that gripped Nevada, with citizens owning multiple franchises and fortunes being made overnight.
The Absurdity of Pretension
The bureaucratic battles with the U.S. Treasury over trivial expenses (e.g., a $3.40 canvas partition, an Indian's wood-sawing voucher) highlight the ridiculousness of official pretensions and red tape.
Humor and Exaggeration
Twain's hyperbolic descriptions—such as the legislator eating raw turnips during prayer, or toll-road franchises hanging over the boundary like a fringe—use exaggeration for comic effect.
Work and Labor
The chapter contrasts the high cost of labor (white men charging $3-4 per load for wood-sawing) with the Secretary's attempt to hire an Indian at half price, reflecting the economic realities of the frontier.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Provides a firsthand account of the early Nevada territorial government and its bureaucratic absurdities.
- Old Curry
Offered his stone building rent-free for the legislature, built a horse-railroad, and furnished the hall, saving the government from collapse.
- Governor Roop
First and only chief magistrate of the temporary 'Washoe' territorial government before being supplanted by Governor Nye.
- Brigham Young
Mentioned as the leader of the Mormons, to whom the early settlers of Carson County owed allegiance.
- Mr. Young
Not directly mentioned in this chapter; included as a placeholder but no relevant appearance.
Key passages
“The hired girl of one of the American families was Irish, and a Catholic; yet it was noted with surprise that she was the only person outside of the Mormon ring who could get favors from the Mormons.”
An Irish Catholic servant girl was uniquely able to obtain favors from the Mormon community, surprising everyone.
Illustrates the social divide between Mormons and non-Mormons in early Carson Valley.
“But for him the legislature would have been obliged to sit in the desert.”
Without Old Abe Curry's generosity, the legislature would have had no place to meet.
Highlights Curry's crucial role in establishing the territorial government.
“The United States never applauded this devotion. Indeed, I think my country was ashamed to have so improvident a person in its employ.”
The U.S. government did not appreciate the Secretary's selfless act of not charging rent, and seemed embarrassed by his frugality.
Twain's sarcastic commentary on the government's lack of recognition for honest service.
“Nothing in this world is palled in such impenetrable obscurity as a U.S. Treasury Comptroller's understanding.”
No one's mind is as hopelessly dense as that of a U.S. Treasury Comptroller.
Twain's humorous jab at the Comptroller's inability to grasp Nevada's high costs.
