"THIS IS IT'
Our Bountiful Continent
Chapter 16
After spending a number of days at Continental Headquarters, in which I gave a report of the tour, and the sanctioning of a number of projects, as well as vetoing others, I touched down in my plane at Jachitan on the late afternoon on the two hundred and thirty-eighth day of the year. I learned that the Delegates had arrived one day in advance of my arrival, and had enjoyed a boat excursion in the bay and fishing in the gulf of Tehuantepec.
The Delegates were at the airport when I arrived, and when I stepped from the plane I was swamped with, not only questions, but the experiences they had had in my absence. During the course of dinner, and after having listened to a number of Delegates describe the various wonders of the southern area of North America (which I regretted having missed seeing), I began planning a travel itinerary of the Istmas districts and points farther east and south. In spite of their enthusiasm for areas yet to visit, I could detect an undercurrent of urgency and impatience, but could not determine its cause until Mr. Proulx said, "Mr. Thorp, we would like to visit every area of North America, and talk with every person living here, which is impossible. However, we have all agreed that we have seen what a technologically organized society on a continental scale can accomplish for its citizenry, to the extent that we are anxious to have an advisory meeting with your Continental Board of Directors as regards the establishment of a Social Dynamic on our respective continents.
"Yes, Mr. Thorp, we are anxious to get advice on ways and means of a smooth transition from a price system to a Social Dynamic. We are anxious to return home and start a social movement that will create an esprit de corps the like of which our people have never experienced, and establish a society on our respective continents that will not only liberate our people from want and privation, but will create an atmosphere of peace among all peoples of the earth, as long as man inhabits this planet. Yes, by all means, Mr. Thorp, we want to see more of the wonders you have wrought on this continent, but our impatience to return home and attempt to emulate what you people have accomplished on this continent is also very strong." When I asked the other Delegates if they felt the same, they answered in the affirmative.
As they chatted among themselves, I sat for some time attempting to formulate a travel itinerary that would be brief yet take them to areas of the continent where some major projects were in progress. It seemed that I must, by all means, let them see the Tehuantepec Canal being developed. Coming to that conclusion, I called the Transportation Sequence of Regional Division 92 through 95 degrees west longitude, and 14 through 17 degrees north latitude, to inquire about transportation across the isthmus, and explained that we wished to make stops to inspect the various areas of the canal, where earth moving and dredging were in progress.
Mr. Pedro Gonzales, Regional Division Director of Transportation in that area, informed me that John Brooks had recently called and asked him to furnish transportation to comply with our needs. He said, "You know, Mr. Thorp, the location of the old rail line had to be changed in places to make way for the canal. During the change of locations we laid the whole line with wide track and heavy rail, which is standard over the continent. We just recently had a shipment of coaches and freight cars that are low center of gravity. We also received a shipment of diesel power units, which will be used temporarily, or until power lines have been laid, to bring in hydroelectric power. Yes, Mr. Thorp, we will have coaches waiting for you on the end of the line tomorrow morning. While talking to Mr. Gonzales.
I suddenly realized the need to have someone of the Hydroelectric and Inland Waterway Sequence personnel accompany us across the isthmus to explain the various operations along the canal. When I mentioned our need, Mr. Gonzales said, "Mr. Thorp, that has been taken care of. Edward Carter, Regional Director of that sequence, will accompany you on the tour of the canal."
While discussing the coming Istmas tour with Mr. Morelos, I overheard an interesting conversation among the Delegates. Before, when talking among themselves, their conversation had to do mostly with the marvelous things they had seen on this continent. Now, they were discussing the possibility and feasibility of organizing their respective continents into self-contained units, to be administered technologically rather than politically. Mr. Van Vorhees was saying to the Delegates, "Owing to the topography of both Europe and Asia, it will not be difficult to develop inland waterways across the two continents." Mrs. Gandhi said, "We of both Europe and Asia will have to admit that we don't have, on our respective continents, the diversification of land, climate, and resources, as does North America. We do, however, produce things that we can use as trade items with North America to supplement those things of which we are in short supply. One resource of my country
that America uses in large amounts is shellac." Mr. Varsolov said, "We can, with the vast resources of Siberia, come to the aid of Asia, in return for such things as food and fiber that are produced in the more temperate and tropical zones of Asia. Both our continents contain many things which can be used as trade items with North America." "Even though we don't have the resource wealth of the North American continent," Mr. Proulx said, "we do have sufficient resources, if used correctly, which will afford a sumptuous livelihood for our people." The discussion of plans to operate their continents as organized units continued for the rest of the evening.
During the discussion Mr. Hoyt said, "I regret to say that the British Isles, off the coast of Europe, are extremely short of resources compared to Europe. We are, however, an industrial area, and can be of great assistance in fabricating and converting raw materials into usable products."
The Delegates had become so excited with their continental planning, and Mr. Morelos and I so elated with their decision, that it was difficult for me to call a halt. Realizing that they needed their rest, I said, "Folks, I am as deeply interested in your conversation as you are, but we must retire if we are to get an early start tomorrow morning." I awoke on the two hundred and thirty-ninth day of the year, the first thought in my mind was the phrase that had become the slogan of the millennium here in North America.
Think globally, act locally, Operate Continentally
I was wondering if anything could get lost in the translation of these six words as they become the first ever truly global slogan. The sky was clear on the Pacific side of the isthmus. However, there were dark clouds in the distance, both north and east, which blanked out the early morning sun glow. After breakfast we were driven to the Pacific entrance of the canal, where Mr. Edward Carter explained the technique of its development.
When we arrived, the excavation of the canal had been completed for some distance, and a massive concrete-laying machine (which we were told had been designed especially for that project, in that the elevated sides could be expanded to any desired height) was laying a slab of concrete over steel reinforcing rods. A short distance inland a massive arch bridge of artistic design was nearing completion, which aroused the curiosity of Mr. Van Vorhees. From his expression, I assumed that he was attempting to determine a more simplified alternative method. "Wouldn't it save time and material," Mr. Van Vorhees said, "to develop an underpass, rather than construct that handsome bridge?" "That was considered," Mr. Carter said, "but after further discussion and consideration, it was determined that, inasmuch as an underpass would be some distance below sea level, there would be no gravity drainage, which would require a pumping system. It was determined that, over a period of time, the energy degraded by a pumping system would exceed that of the bridge construction, not to mention the maintenance and eventual replacement of a
pumping system, as a result of wear. "There will be a number of bridges built," he said, "along the canal at various locations. The bridges farther inland, where the elevation is higher, will resemble that handsome bridge across the Glen Canyon, whose abutments are anchored in the bank." "There is no doubt a reason," Mr. Varsolov said, "and I dislike asking foolish questions, but I see you have excavated the canal to within a short distance of the ocean. By what method will you let the ocean enter the canal?" "You see that opening on the far side of the canal?" Mr. Carter asked. "That is a four-foot pipe, whose depth is just below low tide. That electric motor and gear box on the levee are attached to the stem of a massive valve.
Having constructed a duplicate system on the Atlantic side of the isthmus, we can flood the canal any time we choose. The breakwaters, which you see under construction, are spaced two thousand feet apart, and their base will be thirty feet below the canal base, when completed. Now assume that the canal has been flooded and the breakwaters on both oceans have been laid to a distance at sea where the depth of the ocean is slightly below sixty feet, and the remaining earth on both ends of the canal has been removed by dredge, after which the canal will be open to traffic." When Mr. Proulx. complimented him for his ingenuity, Mr. Carter said, "It really wasn't my plan. There were a number of plans submitted, but this one is the more practical. Had not this method been used of flooding the canal, great damage could result in many ways.
First, the rapid flow of such a massive body of water would carry untold amounts of earth with it, which would have to later be dredged out.
Second, should the water be permitted to enter from one ocean only, the flow would be so rapid as to cause a flood condition at the other extreme of the canal. And finally, if it were possible, which is doubtful, to admit the flow of water from both oceans to enter the canal simultaneously, the result, it is thought, could be damaging when the two bodies of water collide. "It is thought that the collision could be of such force," he said, "as to erode the banks of the canal above the cement lining and cause the sloughing off of the earth into the canal, as well as the possibility of damaging the bridge abutments." Mr. Varsolov said, "Surely, you are not, in some places, excavating the canal with vertical banks, are you?" "Your question is reasonable," Mr. Carter said, "after hearing me explain the possible damage of erosion, when the two bodies of water collide. No, Mr. Varsolov, the banks of the canal will, for its full length, as you see in this area, have a three-to-one slope, and will be terraced, or stepped at every twenty feet of elevation, and each step will have, near its outer edge, a retaining wall, as a safeguard against any eroded earth reaching the bottom of the canal.
" Mr. Carter said, "Now folks, we will board the train and stop at various points along the canal." We had traveled only a short distance when Mr. Carter stopped the train and asked us to leave the coaches for a closer inspection of a project. At one place the earth was being moved by carry-all equipment, and great dikes were being developed. Farther on, at a higher elevation, the earth was being dumped onto conveyor lines, which were moving it out and away. Mr. Carter said, "At higher locations, such as here, where there is no place to randomly deposit the removed earth, we are conveying it out to sloping areas and creating vast dikes, or dams, and filling behind the dams to a height of four feet below the apex, then topping it off with topsoil. By this method we are creating vast level areas, which will be utilized by the Agricultural Sequence. This is being done in many areas. Yes, we admit that in this area we are destroying an established ecology that has existed for eons of time. By the same token we are, by this method, creating a more favorable ecology, one that is more advantageous to man."
At the various stops the Delegates and I agreed that the vast amount of earth being moved was almost incredible. When I mentioned that the order of magnitude of earth moving on this project was so voluminous as to stagger the imagination, Mr. Carter said, "Yes, isn't it wonderful what technology, in the form of massive earth-moving equipment, can accomplish in such a short period of time, and to think that in the first part of the twentieth century the Panama Canal was such a timeconsuming project." Then he mentioned that the time was nearing twelve hours, and could assume that we folks were getting hungry, and promised that we would stop at the next project camp and have lunch. After traveling a short distance, we arrived at the camp, which consisted of a massive dining area and dormitory, which were all air-conditioned and as comfortable as any lodging place we had visited on the tour. Mr. Carter explained that they were only temporary quarters and would be removed when the project was completed.
When we arrived, the eight-to-twelve shift had just completed their day's service and were in the shower area. After we were seated, the project personnel began arriving. They informed us that they were aware of our presence in the area and were extremely happy that we had chosen their camp for midday lunch. During the conversation we learned that the project personnel were from all parts of the continent, including two Eskimos from Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea. As usual the Delegates were barraged with questions.
After someone had compared the Tehuantepec Canal to the Panama, Mr. Van Vorhees said, "Mr. Carter, what will become of the Panama Canal? Will it be used after the Tehuantepec Canal is finished?" Mr. Carter said, "Yes, it certainly will. It can be used for smaller craft. However, when time permits, we will install hydraulic lifts, which operate far more rapidly than float locks. Yes, freight barges can cross that canal single file." After a civil engineer had explained how the size of the dikes and the area of the terraces were determined, Mr. Varsolov said, "Mr. Aden, by what method do you keep the topsoil and the subsoil separated?" "Well, it isn't difficult," Mr. Aden said. "We stockpile the topsoil ahead in various locations; then, when the dike and fill is made, we deposit the topsoil over the whole terraced area to a thickness of four feet. However, as I said before, in determining the area size of the terrace, we have to estimate the amount of earth that is to be excavated from the canal in the various areas, as well as the volume of topsoil in the area." The conversation and the questions had become so interesting that we had forgotten the time of day. Two hours had elapsed before we boarded the train. As we crossed the summit and were traveling down the Atlantic slope, we immediately detected a change in the climate. There were even some intermittent showers, which didn't seem to interfere with the excavation projects.
On the Atlantic slope, we stopped to inspect a number of excavation projects, which were similar to the ones we had passed. However, at each project we stood in awe of the magnitude of what was being accomplished. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived at Coatzacoalcos, where there were beautiful living complexes in a tropical setting. However, between the rail line and tourist quarters, we, from the northerly areas, were annoyed by the humidity. We were met by a welcoming committee and escorted to a massive lounge in the hotel, where acquaintances were made and questions were asked as we sipped cold drinks.
It was truly a treat to be relaxing in an air-conditioned enclosure as we looked through a massive window at all the tropical splendor surrounding us. The hour being too early for dinner, we spent several hours visiting and luxuriating in the comfort of the structure.
Eventually, we were seated in the dining area and were served a seafood dinner. After appetites were sated, everyone became talkative. Mr. Murikomi was listening to a conversation having to do with the vast land area the Delegates had visited on the North American continent, when someone said, "Yes, but we are nearing its southern extreme." Mr. Murikomi said, "Mr. Morelos, what designates the boundary between the two continents of North and South America? Is it arbitrarily arrived at, or is there some topographical configuration as a line of demarcation that sets the two continents apart?" Mr. Morelos said ' "Yes, there is a line of demarcation that sets the two continents apart. The line begins north of where the directional course of the Andes change from a northwesterly to a northeasterly course. To be more specific, the line of demarcation is where water drains to the north, rather than to the west, or east, or south. Yes, this is the dividing line between the two continents."
Rather than the usual questions, the Delegates were making comments to each other. Miss Jensen said, "It is difficult to believe, and more difficult to explain to others, what we have seen on the North American continent, just in the short time we have been touring this land area. "There are a number of things that will amaze our people. For example, how will we explain to them that there is, on this planet, a continental land area whose people have established a social order that precludes a price tag on both products and services? I ask you, how, without seeming to be in the realm of fantasy, can one tell them that on this land area, when one desires a product or service, one only makes a selection of his choice, and surrenders a given amount of energy units, not as a token of anything, but merely as a record of what has been consumed by whom, and at what location, and at what time of day, and day of the year, rather than a purchase? "How can one explain to people," she asked, "that in many instances one doesn't even surrender energy units, such as for food, local transportation, and public health services? Yes, there are many products and services where the individual unit of a sequence keeps a record of its energy degradation at its continental location, which is a saving of time and effort."
"If you consider that a difficult thing to explain," Miss Vollnogle said, "how about every North American being housed in living units that are the very best in comfort, health, individual privacy, and in such proximity to products and services that to acquire their needs they don't have to get their heads wet or wear sunglasses to protect their eyes? Who will believe, when first hearing of it, that on the North American continent there is no differentiation made in individuals' consuming power, because one's consuming power is so great that one will never be able to consume it completely? Therefore, to make a distinction between individual consuming power would not only be foolish, but a cumbersome bookkeeping system, not to mention a friction between individuals, which would tend to lower or even diminish the esprit de corps, which is a mandatory requisite to a smoothrunning society." "I ask you, how do we approach the vast public educational project that confronts us?"
My breath caught in my throat as I thought of the countless members of Technocracy Inc. who had spent entire lifetimes educating us North Americans. (Whoops, I had better listen to Mr. Varsolov he had broached a most important topic.) He went on to say, "The thing that I am most taken with, is the conservation of energy and resources, and the almost complete abandonment of duplication of effort, such as in mass transportation and many other things."
"The thing that one would never believe," Mr. Proulx said, "unless one could see it, is the esprit de corps of the people of North America. A continental society wherein all projects are based on the premise of need, and limited only by the availability of resources, equipment, and trained personnel-rather than of monetary consideration!"
Mrs. Gandhi said, "The most pleasing thing I have seen in North America is the unselfish attitude Americans display toward each other, where there is no caste system or differential financial strata, where the theme is one for all and all for one, therefore creating a feeling of love for one's fellow human beings 'Yes, a feeling of, I am my brother's keeper. It is the first time in the history of man where the pursuit of happiness has become a reality." "I think the most amazing thing I have seen," Mr. Murikomi said, "is the educational system, wherein the youth is taught to be unselfish and noncompetitive. Part of the schooling is becoming acquainted with every sequence, so that the student will know from observation what sequence best suits his desire and aptitude."
"The most pleasing thing I have seen on this continent," Mr. Van Vorhees said, "is the utilization of resources, such as the utilization of the rivers for transportation, hydroelectric power, and the availability of transportation of all kinds, to suit the needs of the citizenry in all locations." One could sense by the expression on Tom Browning's face that all the praise was really getting to him, and it wasn't long before he said, "Just give me a horse and a hunting dog, or a team and buckboard, and a frying pan with a start of sourdough, and plenty of sowbelly, and plenty of open range to roam in. Yes, folks, that is my thing on this continent. You can have the rest of it to play with." Miss Jensen said, "All right, Tom, we will just abandon you ,here and let you find your way back to Carlsbad on a western mustang, so you can induce another colony of gophers to develop another great cavern, or bring back another mountain lion with a rope noose at the end of a pole." Sheik Omar gave Miss Jensen a stern look and said,
"The greatest thing about North America is that everyone here has a clear conscience from being good and kind to his fellows. No one here talks mean to anyone like you do to Tom." Miss Jensen put her arm around Tom and, squeezing him tightly, said, "Sheik, if I didn't talk mean to him he would feel slighted." The sheik shook his head in disbelief.
As conversation continued, I came to the conclusion that, with the impatience of the Delegates to return to their respective continents to initiate the reorganization of society, I would not cover as much land area on the tour as I had intended. It had been my plan to take them island hopping. To take them first to the Galapagos Islands, then to Pago Pago, Samoa, and from there to the Hawaiian Archipelago before returning to Topeka. Realizing that the tour would have to be shortened, I decided the next best thing would be to take them by plane over the rest of the southern part of the continent so they could have a bird's-eye view of the jungle area of the narrow strip of land and the northern slope of the Andes. I wanted them to see the massive jungle area along the Magdalena River and the great falls cascading off the Andes. It was my responsibility to perform the unpleasant task of calling a halt to the conversation.
When I informed them that we would fly south and then back to Topeka, I was surprised at their enthusiasm.
On the morning of the two hundred and fortieth day of the year, I woke the Delegates for an early breakfast. When we arrived at the airport at Mintitlan, the sky was overcast, but the weather report for locations farther south and east was favorable. After we had flown for a short time, the sky became clear, and the land area below was visible. The panorama that unfolded below us was breathtaking. As the plane banked from side to side for better viewing, Mr. Morelos called attention to various rivers, agricultural areas, pyramids, and dense jungle areas. As we neared the Andes, he pointed out the massive jungle along the Magdalena River. After flying a short time and gaining altitude, the plane banked over to either side in order to give us a good view of the massive falls. From our airborne position, the sight was spectacular and amazing. "Folks, you see here in these falls," Mr. Morelos said, "the potential of millions of kilowatts of power. However, at this period the power from the falls is not needed. There may, of course, come a time when it is needed. We will, however, leave it as a legacy to posterity."
After circling the falls for a number of times, and banking the plane for different perspective views, the pilot set a course north by northwest. Several of the Delegates stated that they had never seen anything so spectacular as the Magdalena jungle and the great falls. "Did you ever, Tom," Miss Jensen said, "see anything quite so beautiful and breathtaking?" "That's nothing," Tom said. "You should see the Arkansas River in flood time, iffen you want to see somethin' excitin, and purty.
During the rest of the flight north there were very few questions. The conversation was almost completely among the Delegates, who were discussing and planning their approach and tact in educating and conditioning their people to think in terms of abundance, social service, and the organization of a smooth transition from a price system society to that of a Social Dynamic.
Listening to the approach and the plans they were formulating, I was amazed that we on this continent hadn't been as prudent and farsighted as regards social change as they were. It came to mind that North Americans don't possess the best brains in the world-that in reality we are descendants of Europe and Asiatic stock, and we owe much to their initiative and ingenuity. Listening to such interesting conversation, I found time passing so rapidly that I was surprised when the captain announced that we would make a landing at Matamoros to take on fuel and that the passengers could leave the plane for a diversion in the interim. When the announcement was made, Sheik Omar said, "As you crazy Americans say, we can leave the plane and 'stretch our legs.' Such a crazy expression. How do you Americans think of such foolish things to say?"
It was late afternoon when we set down at Topeka. After leaving the responsibility of the Delegates to Tom Browning, I told them to be present at the Continental Headquarters Assembly Chambers at nine hours the following morning. When things seemed to be in order, I said, "Jose, let's go make a report to John Brooks."
To be continued
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