After WWI, the United States became a major exporter to devastated European countries. Despite experiencing an economic recession, the average income for Americans rose. This statistic didn’t represent all American households, however. The uptick was in part upper-class manufacturers and developers profiting off of European demand. The rich were getting richer.

For farmers in rural communities, average income fell by 21% by 1924. This number continued to fall through 1925. Taxes rose as the rate of foreclosures started to increase.

This demand for another source of income contributed to the desire to attract tourists with money start and the subsequent Cave Wars in Kentucky.

The media circus surrounding the Floyd Collins incident allowed nearby farmers, like Bee Doyle, to profit off of the sheer number of people arriving who needed food, lodging, and warmth. The carnival nature of it all was less about rescuing this man and more about being there when it all went down.

The insular community of the Kentucky natives contributed to the “us v. them” complex when “outlanders” arrived to assist in the rescue. Money, contribution, and power were all incredibly important.