2006
"THIS IS IT"
Our Bountiful Continent
COASTAL INLAND WATERWAY
When I awakened on the morning of the hundred and sixty second day of the year it seemed that I had overslept. in my anxiety I hurriedly dressed and went to the fire escape to make an inspection of the weather, realizing that weather would be a determining factor regarding the activity for the day. The day was dawning with only scattered clouds in the sky. Looking to the west and the south I saw marine craft plying the blue water.
The night before I had hoped that the group would suggest traveling to locations of beautiful rolling countryside. Inasmuch as we had awakened to such a beautiful day, I thought, wouldn't both they and I enjoy a trip down the coastal inland waterway? I went to the lobby expecting to hear any number of suggestions for the day's activity. When I arrived I felt like a speaker who had stepped to a podium, because I was met by a mass of serious faces waiting for my lead. At breakfast when the chattering had abated somewhat, I said, "Well, folks, where would you like to go?"
It is difficult to put into words the feeling one has when, after having asked for a suggestion, one is stared at by blank faces. When the silence became awkward, and I realized there would be no suggestions forthcoming, I said, "Last evening I had thoughts of traveling west, but inasmuch as the day is so beautiful, and the water so calm, how would you like traveling down the coastal inland waterway?" My suggestion had the effect of asking little children if they would like going to a circus.
While the chattering and the hand clapping were ringing Coastal Inland Waterway in my ears I stepped to the telephone and called the Transportation Sequence. I told John Reed what my plans were, and he informed me that there would be a large (two-decker) craft of shallow draft available to us at the waterfront. The craft was equipped with seats on open decks, which had been especially designed for sightseeing, and was staffed with Catering Sequence personnel to serve food and drink.
After we had left the harbor and were plying the inland waterway, the passengers all stood, looking with an expression of awe on their faces. They stood that way for some time until fatigue set in; then they gradually sat down.
The scenery of agricultural activity and the beautiful buildings that had been erected for living quarters, with new stands of trees surrounding the structures, evoked many questions. I took a position at the microphone at the front of the upper deck, and received questions by earphones, which were connected at each seat. The questions were rapid, having to do mostly with plant growth and terrain, so long as we were in open country.
When we arrived at Miami Beach the Delegates were awestruck at a massive living complex, which caused the one at Long Island to appear small by comparison. The building is so large, and of such graceful architecture, with plant life and terrain gracing its natural elegance, that it made the Delegates catch their breath. I heard someone say, "I never expected to see the Ta] Mahal in North America." I was asked by Miss Lei, of the Peoples Republic of China, why we housed people in such large structures, rather than in cottage-type houses.
I explained to her that there is a multiple purpose in that method of housing. First of all, the cottage-type house takes up space that can be used for agriculture, stands of trees, or park areas for recreation. Most of all, the cottage type of housing makes for much duplication of facilities, in that it scatters people to the extent that extra shopping centers have to be erected. Furthermore, it is especially difficult for elderly people to travel long distances to acquire food, clothing, and entertainment. The large living complex puts people in touch with anything and everything they desire in the way of entertainment, education, hospitalization, and transportation. We have found that people prefer traveling to the countryside for pleasure and scenery, rather than to travel to urban centers for commodities and entertainment. However, those who wish to live in cottages can do so as long as they like. "Strange as it may seem, people living in large complexes have more privacy than those living in cottages," I said. "The living quarters in large complexes are soundproof, fireproof, and maintained by the complex maintenance crew of the Housing Sequence," I explained, I told the Delegates that, for the most part, extremely large complexes were being erected in milder climates, and near the ocean front, where retired people and tourists want to congregate.
The trip south was quite time-consuming, but it was rewarding to see such beautiful countryside and observe such happy people. Time of course is always an element, especially with my responsibility on this continent, but it came to my mind that, while I was about it, it would be well to take the group for a real outing and pleasure trip. So we visited the Keys before turning north.
On the trip north I took some time on the peninsula to explain to them that those areas that had originally been swamp land were gradually being turned back to their original condition, all for the purpose of maintaining a high water level, and for favorable climatic conditions. I told them that we didn't want to see that area of the continent come to resemble the dust bowl of the mid-continent in the 1930s, which area, for the most part, should never have been used for agriculture-that it was ofttimes unwise to upset a land area pattern that had been formed eons ago. We traversed the bayous and saw giant cypresses with large spreading bases and massive roots growing out of the water.
After taking them on a trip through the Okefenokee Swamp, I took them to the Civil War battlegrounds and explained to them the uselessness of such foolish military confrontation, causing relatives and friends to slaughter each other-resulting in a feeling of bitterness for years to follow, and all for no good reason. I explained that in the absence of monetary consideration it would never have happened. After returning to the waterfront we boarded the craft and headed for the Mississippi River, stopping for a short time at New Orleans.
Since the 2005 catastrophic flood the buildings in the city had been replaced with new structures for human habitation, with the exception of the few remaining historic ones. I explained that some areas and structures over the continent had been set aside as park areas or historical monuments, so that posterity could see how men once lived and operated when monetary reward was the order of the day.
While traveling up the Mississippi River we made a number of stops to see historic landmarks and inspect some grand old plantation homes that have been preserved for their historical usefulness. The majority of those present, having read Samuel Clemens's stories of the Mark Twain characters' escapades, found the tour of this area of North America to be an exciting experience, as it was for me.
A number of Delegates were laughing while relating some of Mark Twain's characters and events that centered around that area of the Mississippi River, including, of course, Huckleberry's attempt to take the slave up the Ohio River and to freedom.
While visiting one grand old plantation mansion, some of the Delegates were relating events from the novel Gone With the Wind, with such intensity that their fantasy seemed to transcend reality, to the extent that they themselves were the various characters of that bygone era. Disembarking at St. Louis I took them a short distance west and south to a point at the edge of the Ozark Mountains, to visit the caves in that area, of which some were large and some small. I explained that, during the period preceding the Civil War, the then territory of Missouri was a location of divided sentiment, Coastal Inland Waterway resulting in some of the residents of that location refusing to of their lack of cognizance of take sides in the conflict, because what the conflict was about.
I explained that those who refused to fight their relatives and friends (in order to escape execution or prison) became outlaws for the duration of the war, and were known as bushwhackers, and were forced to take refuge in some of the caves. One of the more noted bushwhackers was William ("Wild Bill!') Wilson, who later went west and became associated with William ("Wild Bill") Hickok. Another bushwhacker was Hew Archer, who later went to Texas and became a farmer and rancher on a large spread of land.
Before leaving the Ozark area we visited tile large hideout cave of the notorious Jessie James, and his band of desperados, who Never said to have been driven to acts of violence by the mal-treatment of the railroad officials.
On the drive back to St, Louis, the questions were few but the comments were many and exciting. Many of those present, having seen some of the old Hollywood horse operas, seemed to think in retrospect of their childhood fantasies, and, almost spontaneously, like a group of children, began discussing and acting out Civil War and Western scenes, of the quick-draw
McGraw type.
They sang Western songs, such as "Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie," "High Noon," and "Keep Them Doggies Moving." When the Western songs ceased, they began singing "Jubilee." The event that caused the most excitement and hand clapping was their singing "While We Go Marching Through Georgia." After they attempted to pressure me to sing the songs from the musical Oklahoma and failed, the serious questions began again. Before we arrived at St. Louis they had unanimously con- eluded that the bushwhackers were the intellectuals of the Civil War. Our original plan was to ply the Missouri River as far north as Council Bluffs, but during the dinner period the conversation turned to conventions, and they reminded me of my promise that they could sit in while the various conventions were in session.
Their enthusiasm became so expanded in regard to conventions that they were discussing the merits of conventions as a means of influencing advantageous projects and behavior patterns, versus legislation. Seeing that our plan of traveling up the Missouri River was rapidly being vetoed, I went to the phone and made some calls.
First I called lack London, of Area Control, to make inquiry as to where and when the various conventioneers would meet. He told me that the Educational Sequence and its various divisions were meeting in Washington, D.C., this year; as to the exact date he referred me to Miss Evelyn Driscall, chairwoman and organizer of all continental conventions.
Miss Driscall. informed me that a convention of the Ecclesiastic Division of the Educational Sequence, and the psychologists and psychiatrists, would start the day after tomorrow in the Chamber of Congress, in the erstwhile Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. To be more specific, the convention would start at nine hours, on the one hundred and seventieth day of the year. She said, "Mr. Thorp, I think having the Delegates attend the convention is a very friendly gesture, and one I am certain they will enjoy." When I informed the group of what I had learned, and that they would indeed get to attend at least some of the conventions in the immediate future, chattering began.
For the purpose of impressing me (I assume) with her knowledge of America, Mrs. Gandhi, of India, said, "Let me think now. Ah! Yes, Washington, D.C., is within the boundary of the state of Maryland." I said, "Correction, folks. Washington, D.C., is designated 76/77-38, because a portion of it lies in longitude 76, and a portion in longitude 77, and it lies north of latitude 38." I told them that we would fly the next day to Washington, and that by that method of transportation we would have ample time to enjoy the scenery of the area. I said, "Good night and sleep well, because tomorrow we will be leaving early."
This was chapter 4 on to chapter 5
#5.2.7 from our extensive Q&A file
What are Regional Divisions?
Regional Divisions are Technocracy's method of dividing the Technate area into smaller units for the purpose of organization. In deciding what method to use, Technocracy considered methods used today, like the present political and administrative areas, states, provinces, and precincts, but found them all too random and arbitrary. Natural boundaries were considered as well, but again, fell apart due to the abstract and random nature of these divisions. What was decided on was a method that greatly simplified the process of locating places on a map. It is based on the presently used units of Longitude and Latitude, already in common usage. A Regional Division, therefore, would be defined as a quadrangle limited by two successive parallels of latitude and two successive parallels of longitude, and designated by a number comprised of the longitude and latitude of the south-east corner of this quadrangle. Thus the Regional Division in which New York City is located is 7340; Cleveland, 8141; St. Louis, 9038; Los Angeles, 11834; Mexico City, 9919; Edmonton, 11353, etc. Thus the number not only designates an area, but also locates it. In this manner all present political boundaries are dispensed with. The whole area is blocked off into a completely rational and simple system that is far easier to use and learn than any of today's methods. This is covered in chapter21 of Project Graybook.