WHAT A HUGE COME UP!!!
You talk about massive opportunity. Wholly Crap! Translate to today, that's like buying up areas of Detroit and Baltimore with the long plan in mind for on;y $20 A BLOCK!!
Back then, the investor was those willing to pioneer the unknown. (similar to today)
It's important to note that unfortunately, only white men were able to take advantage of this opportunity of generations even though there were plenty of people of color living in America at this time.