The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today

Chapter 24 provides a second-person account of what the reader might encounter in a visit to the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. This humorous description satirically criticizes the American government.

Washington, however, is enchanted with his life in DC, especially because the city is rife with speculations and schemes, a way of thinking so familiar and dear to him. As a friend to Beriah and Harry, Washington is thrilled to declare victory for their bill for the appropriation to improve the Columbus River, which finally passes after many votes.

Washington writes to Louise saying he has an offer on the Tennessee land for $40,000 and plans to accept it so he can marry her. Louise’s father encourages Washington not to speculate with the money.

The appropriation bill Congress passes awards $200,000 to the Columbus River project. In his letter to Beriah about it, Harry gives himself full credit for pushing the vote through. The two men begin work on the river before they actually get the money. After a month, they’re forced to pay the workers with “orders on the Company” managing the appropriation funds (134). The Hawkeye merchants who take these orders—essentially IOU’s—as payment forward them to New York, but never receive any money.