2006
"THIS IS IT'
Our Bountiful Continent
Chapter 9
I had awoken and was watching the Delegates arrive for breakfast with a sleepy look on their faces. After I had finished eating, I called Mrs. Sarah Roberts, of the Recreational Sequence, to ascertain who was responsible for the park division of Regional Division 9834. She referred me to Edward Blomberg. Mr. Blomberg informed me that for the safety of the visitors he would have Ranger Cummings meet us on the highway approaching Lawton. As we approached Lawton, the driver pulled to the side of the road, where two men were waving their hands. They each had a pickup truck with horse trailers attached, and a horse in each trailer. Thinking that they were now in the west, the Delegates departed from the bus to meet the Rangers and inspect the horses.
Mr. Cummings said, "The Wild Life Refuge was originally established for the purpose of preventing the long-horned cow and the mustang horse from becoming extinct, as well as to protect other animal species." We were informed that the horses in the preserve were the mustang breed, which were originally brought to North America from Spain by the early settlers, but drifted into open country and became wild. After generations their appearance had changed somewhat from the original stock.
When asked why he needed horses for a game reserve, Mr. Cummings said, "The saddle horse is needed to move the various animal species to different locations occasionally, to prevent the grass from being grazed too short; otherwise, the sod would be trampled, and erosion would set in." Before we left the highway to enter the game reserve, Mr. Cummings told me not to permit the visitors to leave the bus unless someone were present on horseback. He said, "The bison and long-horn are prone to attack." As we drove into the reserve, everyone had cameras at the ready.
We hadn't driven far when Mr. Cummings and his assistant stopped and backed their horses out of the trailers. He said, "Over there is a herd of bison on level enough ground that you can approach by bus, if horses are present, which they are used to seeing. We will ride ahead, and your driver can follow slowly behind. If we are lucky we can get close enough for some good camera shots, but by all means keep your people close to the bus." As we came near the bison, Mr. Cummings said, "All right, folks, it will be safe to leave the bus, provided you stay close by." When I told them that all was safe, they sat spellbound for a time just staring, as though they were afraid to set foot on the ground. They did eventually leave the bus to take pictures. When the bison became accustomed to our presence they began to pair off and butt each other in mock battle. When the Delegates had lost their fear of the animals, we had some difficulty getting them to enter the bus. They stood transfixed at what they were seeing. After pictures were taken, we drove for some time, until the trucks once more came to a stop. Mr. Cummings pointed to some deer that were grazing peacefully, and told us we would never get closer without them bolting.
We started driving again over beautiful prairie, with high ground and rock outcropping in the distance. After we had driven through a large area of trees, the trucks stopped again. After the horses were unloaded, Mr. Cummings said, "We drove a herd of long-horn to some valley pasture this morning, and it is likely they will still be there. It's just over that high ground, so follow along slowly, and if all goes well your people will get some good camera shots."
When arriving at the top of the hill, the group saw a sight that afforded new excitement. Mr. Cummings said, "Now just move along slowly behind us until we approach to a close distance, but don't let your people leave the bus this time, because those cattle are not to be trusted." As we moved to a closer distance, the animals became nervous and began pawing the ground. When they quieted down and began grazing, I said, "Okay, folks, you can come out of your trance now and take pictures through the windows." "I just can believe," Miss Vollnogle said, "that I am seeing long-horn cattle grazing on range land in the American West. I hope my pictures develop well, otherwise no one will believe I saw this." When traveling again, the group became very excited when they saw a herd of mustangs gallop off as we approached. We came to a beautiful picnic area, where a small stream was flowing from the high rocky area of the Wichita Mountains. The ranger motioned for us to stop and said, "This is a nice place for some hiking and sightseeing. Perhaps the Delegates would like to stretch their legs for a spell." The bus had no sooner stopped when the group were out and going in all directions. "Call them back," Mr. Cummings said, "because this area at this time of the year is rattlesnake-infested." When they were assembled around the picnic table, Mr. Cummings said, "There is a trail which leads to the top of a rock knoll, which is less than a mile away, that gives a panoramic view of the whole countryside." On reaching the summit, we found vast rocks to stand on for a better view of the lower terrain. Standing atop a large boulder, Mr. Hoyt, with a look of disbelief on his face, said, "I would never have believed that one could see such a long distance. As mountains go, the Wichita Range is very puny compared to some I have visited, but so help me none can give such a beautiful sight as we are now seeing." Mr. Cummings was pointing at various locations and saying, "Now, in this direction is Fort Sill, and in this direction is Lawton. Now, with the binoculars you can see Chicasha, Altus, and Snyder. To the south you can see the Red River, which in a short while will be navigable, and a part of the inland waterway of North America." As we were entering the bus, Mr. Cummings informed us that the personnel of the park division had prepared food for us in the picnic area of the reserve headquarters. When we arrived at the headquarters, several of the group commented what a contrast the beautiful headquarters living complex was to the wide-open range country we had just driven through.
As we were eating barbecued long-horn beef, beans, salad, and camp-baked bread, Mr. Cummings was kept busy answering questions. He informed us that the long-homed cow is a cross between the Spanish bull and the Scotch oxen. He explained that the Spanish bull had wandered into open western regions and had become wild and unclaimed. The Scotch oxen were set free as a result of Indian raids on wagon trains that were traveling in the Southwest. He said, "Cross breeding of the two strains resulted in a very rugged animal, which adapted well to the Southwest area of the North American Continent. They are especially suited for the more arid regions, and don't require a lot of feeding to produce good beef." On finishing his explanation of the long-horn cow, Miss Jensen said, "Mr. Cummings, I have always wanted to see a rodeo. Where can one go to see a rodeo?"
Her question caught him off guard, to the extent that he sat wide-eyed for a spell, attempting to formulate a tactful answer. Eventually he smiled and said, "Well, miss, you must realize that the rodeo or roundup was a price system commercial affair, and was sponsored for that purpose. However, at some of the large animal husbandry compounds some of the young men ride bucking horses, partly for pleasure and entertainment, but mainly to train them for use on the compound. At many of the compounds the riding of bucking horses affords an outing for people who travel long distances to be present as spectators. No longer are there horses trained to be outlaw animals, just for show, as there were at the rodeos during the price system era.
"It is possible to see calf roping at the compounds for the purpose of castration of the young male calves. I doubt if there is any place where you can see the bulldogging of steers, because it is considered as cruelty to the animal. No, miss, in the absence of monetary consideration, many of those gory things disappear from the scene."
After we had inspected the compound and been conducted on a tour of the stables, I said, "Well, folks, where would you like to go from here?" As usual when there was no answer forthcoming, I said, "Wait, I know of some places not far to the north in Regional Division 9935, where some unusual infamous history was made in the early days of the West." The suggestion evoked a unanimous cry of "Let's go see it!"
As we headed west, I was again beset with questions concerning historical events in the area. I said, "We are now in the area that was considered Kiowa and Comanche territory. They were a wild people who made forays, both north and south, burning and killing and kidnapping for ransom. I was told by an early resident that, when he was a young boy, attending a picnic at Mountain Park, he saw a blind Mexican woman begging coins. He was told that the Comanche Indians had blinded her when she had attempted to escape. "Before being subdued, the last chief of the Comanche tribe was a man by the name of Quanah Parker, who was half Indian and half Caucasian, and was thought of in this area as being the wildest and most cruel of any chief the tribe had ever had. "Now, folks, we are entering the area I was familiar with as a boy. Yes, this is the town of Snyder, but what a change there has been since I last saw the place! It is certainly pleasing to see such beautiful living complexes, and to see so much agricultural activity. My memory of this place was my father's butcher shop, and a fighting bulldog at every house, which used to scare the devil out of me. I remember once, when I was visit- ing my father's butcher shop, a blanketed Indian purchased some liver and ate it raw as he stood by my father's chopping block. At the sight of that I ran behind the counter and hid. "The town to our left is Hobart. I once met a man who said he had been brought to this area when he was very young. He told me that during a stormy period the Comanche Indians were on a trek south, and had stopped at his father's trading post for food and shelter. When Quanah Parker saw his mother's cooking range he offered to purchase it. When his mother informed him that the range was not for sale, he became very abusive and threatening. "Now we are entering the district of Foss, and I have a true story to tell you. One that will be difficult for you to accept as anything but fiction. Believe me, what I am going to tell you actually happened." I had the driver turn off the highway onto an unpaved road. When we arrived on higher ground where a good view was possible, I had the driver stop.
When we left the bus I said, "Now, folks, those trees are along Turkey Creek. On the high meadow, just to the right, there once stood a rock house, with openings resembling portholes in a ship, which were used to shoot from. The house was built by a man by the name of Mr. Force, who came here in the nineteenth century, and was granted a permit to run cattle in this, which was the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian territory. His venture was successful until the Indians experienced adverse conditions perpetrated by white men and the United States Army. "Not until the Indians killed his hired man did Mr. Force take positive action. I once heard him say, 'At first I considered leaving this country, but, damn it all, I had been good to those wild devils. Yes, I had even given them cattle to butcher when game was scarce. Well, by God, I had grown to like this country, and by God, I figured to stay. On further consideration I concluded that if I did stay I would have to take the initiative and go stalking them devils. Yes, by God, I was a better Indian than they were. I knew how their minds worked, and I knew this country's every hill and valley for miles around. How many did I kill? Well, I plumb lost track of how many I killed, but enough of them devils to where I became boss.' "When I was a youngster living near Mr. Force, he had so completely instilled a fear of himself in the Indians that the older ones of the tribe would always ask his permission to go to the town of Foss."
After looking over the country for a time, Mr. Hoyt said, "If anyone other than you had told me that, I would never have believed it."
We traveled west from Foss to Elk City, then north to Hammon. When we were traveling through a country between Hammon and Strong City, I told the group that that area was known as the short grass region. While driving over that hilly country, I told the group that I knew of something that happened right there in those hills that would be difficult for them to believe. I said, "Folks, right here in these hills, in the first quarter of the twentieth century, there was a feud in progress, and people living here as neighbors were stalking each other with guns; however, I never heard of anyone getting killed." Miss Vollnogle said with a trembling voice, "Let's get out of here before we get shot. No, Mr. Thorp, you have to be joking."
When I informed her that what I had told her was true, a period of hilarity ensued. Everyone seemed to get in the act of pretending to be shooting at someone or being shot at. Attempting to be serious, which was difficult, I said, "Cut it out, because we are coming into the town of Cheyenne, and I don't want people to think that a native son is bringing in a group of foreign nuts." As we were nearing Cheyenne, along the Washita River, there were nice fields of alfalfa. We drove by the animal husbandry compound and packing and freezing unit, combined with a dairy. There was a tanning shed, which is a division of the newly established Leather Sequence, Not having been in Cheyenne since the inception of the Social Dynamic, I was pleased at the change that had been made. The living complex was beautiful, sitting as it does on high ground.
When we pulled to a stop we were greeted by Mr. Bob Cogburn, who is Regional Division Director of the Animal Hus- bandry Sequence of Regional Division 9935. 1 informed Mr. Cogburn that, having heard so much about the Black Kettle Museum, I thought it would be interesting to the Delegates and me to view its content before dinner. After the Delegates had inspected a unique museum, and had eaten a very pleasant dinner, we were invited to the theater to see the local drama students perform a play portraying an event of the early settlers of that area.
After the dramatic performance, Mr. Cogbum was confronted with a barrage of questions. When asked about the absence of children in the complex, he informed them that a sizable number of children were on a class tour to various sections of North America to see the country, and inspect the various sequences, partly for pleasure, but mostly to acquire a knowledge of how the Social Dynamic of North America is operated through the function of its various production and service sequences, and to ascertain which sequence is the more appealing to them individually. He said, "For example, some of the older students that we saw performing in the play are from various parts of the continent, and are here to participate in the activity of the Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and the Leather Sequence divisions, having to do mostly with tanning experience. "The students I am speaking of are those who have chosen the sequence they desire to be associated with during their period of social responsibility, which starts at the age of twenty-five and terminates at the age of forty-five." Her Majesty's Prime Minister posed a question concerning compulsory termination at the age of forty-five.
Mr. Cogbum informed him that, inasmuch as so many are being trained to accept social responsibility in the various sequences, people reaching the age of forty-five are no longer needed to keep the continent running smoothly. However, if an individual wishes to remain active in his chosen sequence after he reaches retirement age, he could spend as much time as he might choose, to aid in the event of someone becoming ill, or to fill in, so to speak, when someone might need extra time off from his normal period of responsibility; or he can travel, spend his time at a hobby, or lecture to student classes, or whatever he might choose, because he would no longer have any direct social responsibility.
Mr. Van Vorhees said, "During the time I have been on this continental tour, I have never heard anyone speak of hyphenated American organizations, of which I read so much about in the past. What I really want to know is what happened to the minority groups in America?"
By the expression on his face, one could sense that Mr. Cogburn was thinking of an answer that would clarify Mr. Van Vorhees's question. After some meditation Mr. Cogburn said, "Mr. Van Vorhees, the greatness of this continent is due primarily to the fact that this continent, aside from its resources and vast land area, which lies in many climatic zones, is made up of people of all nations and races of the world. No, Mr. Van Vorhees, we have no minority people in North America, rather, they are all part of the majority." "When I was attending a meeting of the Continental Board of Directors," Mr. Proulx said, "there was a new sequence arbitrarily created by the decision of the Continental Board of Directors, specifically the Leather Sequence. Who will act as its Continental Director, and its many Regional Directors, and how will they be chosen?"
Mr. Cogburn informed him that inasmuch as the Leather Sequence had originally been a division of the Animal Husbandry Sequence, the personnel of the Animal Husbandry Sequence, in this Regional Division, as well as the other Regional Divisions will, after extensive discussion and consideration, as to knowledge of tanning leather for its various uses, and as to leadership ability, have, in this Regional Division of 9935, made two recommendations to Mr. George Susa, Continental Director of the Animal Husbandry Sequence. They have recommended Mr. John Little as Director of this Regional Division, and Mr. Joe Calvert as reaches retirement age, he could spend as much time as he might choose, to aid in the event of someone becoming ill, or to fill in, so to speak, when someone might need extra time off from his normal period of responsibility; or he can travel, spend his time at a hobby, or lecture to student classes, or whatever he might choose, because he would no longer have any direct social responsibility.
Mr. Van Vorhees said, "During the time I have been on this continental tour, I have never heard anyone speak of hyphenated American organizations, of which I read so much about in the past. What I really want to know is what happened to the minority groups in America?" By the expression on his face, one could sense that Mr. Cogburn was thinking of an answer that would clarify Mr. Van Vorhees's question. After some meditation Mr. Cogburn said, "Mr. Van Vorhees, the greatness of this continent is due primarily to the fact that this continent, aside from its resources and vast land area, which lies in many climatic zones, is made up of people of all nations and races of the world. No, Mr. Van Vorhees, we have no minority people in North America, rather, they are all part of the majority." "When I was attending a meeting of the Continental Board of Directors," Mr. Proulx said, "there was a new sequence arbitrarily created by the decision of the Continental Board of Directors, specifically the Leather Sequence. Who will act as its Continental Director, and its many Regional Directors, and how will they be chosen?"
Mr. Cogburn informed him that inasmuch as the Leather Sequence had originally been a division of the Animal Husbandry Sequence, the personnel of the Animal Husbandry Sequence, in this Regional Division, as well as the other Regional Divisions will, after extensive discussion and consideration, as to knowledge of tanning leather for its various uses, and as to leadership ability, have, in this Regional Division of 9935, made two recommendations to Mr. George Susa, Continental Director of the Animal Husbandry Sequence. They have recommended Mr. John Little as Director of this Regional Division, and Mr. Joe Calvert as Continental Director of the Leather Sequence. He added that he was certain that the other Regional Divisions had also made recommendations regarding personnel to assume the responsibility of the Continental Directorship of that sequence. When Mr. Cogburn asked if there were any more questions, Sheik Omar commented, through his interpreter, that it seemed to him that everyone in the new social order was happy with their new way of life, due to the individual's high standard of living and high degree of personal choice and selectivity, as a result of the smoothly operating mechanism of such a technological social order. One could sense that the sheik's impression of everyone being completely content with the new social order was causing Mr. Cogburn some difficulty in formulating a reply to the sheik's slightly erroneous impression of attitudes in North America.
Mr. Cogburn stood for a spell in deep thought. Eventually he said, "No, Mr. Omar, on the contrary, it is impossible to please or satisfy everyone at all times. Some of our older people, who were conditioned in the price system era, seem yet to have a hangover from the past. Considering your brief exposure to the new social order, it will, no doubt, come as a surprise that there are a few individuals who are not content to be on a par with everyone within the framework of our new society. We refer to this as a fascistic attitude. "We have found that, for the most part," he said, "people of wealthy families who have never witnessed financial hardship have readily adjusted to our Social Dynamic. However, some people who suddenly became wealthy seem to have been affected by a personality change, causing them to acquire a feeling of prestige and social status, to the extent that they are prone to look down on the more unfortunate with disdain. The mechanics of our new social order seem to injure their ego that they are not more affluent than their fellows. "The human animal is difficult to understand at times, because some people's psyche is affected when doling out to the poor and deprived. "Mr. Omar, that attitude is rapidly diminishing," he said, "by virtue of environment; in a short while it will have disappeared."
When there were no more questions forthcoming, Mr. Cogburn conducted us to our quarters.
Before we had a chance to retire, Mr. Hoyt beckoned me aside and said, "Mr. Thorp, this whole thing is so astounding. I never would have believed that such a condition could exist in human organization. One that is so simple, efficient, scientific, and humane, such as is your society of North America, when just a short while ago, during your price system era, the order of things was dog eat dog. This type of social order just has to be for the rest of the world. Really, America has shown the way. "Would it be asking too much," he said, "for your Continental Board of Directors to assist other continents in setting up a similar social system? Yes, it has taken up to now for me to receive the full impact of what this type of social system means to humanity, if there is to be peace and tranquility in the world." I told him that we could aid other people of the world in the way of advice. I said, "There is no continent on the face of the earth that can't of itself enjoy a Social Dynamic. However, it has to be done on, and only on, a continental basis. Yes, I am certain we can be of assistance."
When he asked me why I was so insistent on a continental basis, I said, "No nation of the world has the diversification of climate, resources, technology, and trained personnel to success- fully establish a thorough, complete, and desirable Social Dynamic." I told him that the four continents-North America Europe, Asia, and Africa--could each on their own initiative establish a successful Social Dynamic.
When he mentioned that I had left out South America, I told him that South America is only recently emerging from a hacienda culture, and it would take time for its people to condition themselves to think in terms of leisure and abundance. However, it does have vast resources, and can maintain itself on an overall low standard of living within the framework of a price system, if it carries on sufficient foreign trade. Eventually, South America may desire to join with North America; only time will determine such an event. "You have left out Australia," Mr. Hoyt said, "and don't tell me that Australia is self-sufficient."
I told him that, even though Australia is a continent, it is in the Asiatic hemisphere, and could very well function as an adjunctive asset to the overall betterment of itself and the people of the Asiatic continent. I lay awake for some time pondering the question of what our activity would be for the remainder of the Delegates' stay on this continent. Realizing that the next day would be the one hundred and seventy-sixth day of the year set me to thinking that time was elapsing and that summer weather would not last forever. I realized that, in spite of my desire to the contrary, it wouldn't be possible to take the Delegates to every location of interest on this continent.
I came to the conclusion that, in spite of their wanting to see all of the open country, concerning symbols they had acquired by way of horse opera cinema, more of it would be repetitious. There were other places I wanted them to see, and other people I wanted them to meet. I wanted them to see the natural wonders of this continent, especially the Carlsbad Caverns, the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest Desert, and the Pacific Coastal Range of mountains. I also wanted them to see the tropical and semitropical areas of North America, but that could come later in the year.
This was chapter 9 on to chapter 10