Until the middle of the nineteenth century, most Americans were indifferent to paint. Wood was plentiful and cheap especially on the frontier; in fact most settlers had to chop down trees to dear their land. Being eager to start farming, they used their wood to build their cabins as cheaply and quickly as possible. If they had painted their buildings, this might have extended their durability but painting was an expensive and timeconsuming job. There were ______ more urgent calls upon their time and their money.