Title:
The Flaming Sword
Accession#:
2006.08.29
Pubication Date:
1922/04
Object ID:
PA—0245
Collection:
Flaming Sword
Additional Notes & Full Text:
Current Events in Our Community Life
BY D. J. RICHARDS
April 1922
A new organization, known as the Taxpayers League was recently organized in this southern end of Lee County, with Brother Allen Andrews as its chairman. The purpose of the organization is to keep tab on how the business of this section is conducted, and to see that the taxpayers get value received for the money expended. At a recent meeting of the above League held at Bonita Springs (the adjoining town south of Estero), which a number from the Unity attended, we had the pleasure of listening to a most interesting talk by Mr. Chas. O'Connor, Field Organizer of the American Automobile Association, on what this organization was doing in behalf of good roads throughout the United States as well as foreign countries.
This organization has its headquarters in New York and Chicago, and consists now of over a million members. It was organized when there were but few automobiles, in the country, by a few millionaires whose principal hobby was good roadsi. What they have accomplished sounds like a dream from fairy land; but as Mr. O'Connor remarked at the beginning of his talk, he was not there to make a flowery speech, but simply to state facts and give statistics. He took us from one end of the country to the other; but what concerns us most, however, is his mission in Florida, particularly Lee County.
Mr. O'Connor said that last year they had over 8,000 inquiries from members of their organization, as to how they could reach Lee County, Fla., but with great reluctance their officers were obliged to inform them to keep away from Lee County because the roads were in no fit condition for travel,—which is the truth, with the result that only 100 cars reached Fort Myers, our county seat. Counting five persons to a car, 500 persons got to Lee County, instead of 40,000 had the conditions been otherwise.
Mr. O'Connor painted a vivid picture of what this meant to Lee County; that we lost about $3,500,000 for our indifference this year alone, and that he was here to arouse us to the need of connecting up with other trunk lines in the state and get ready to get some of this business by next winter. This he thought could be done if the county got busy right away and bonded itself for $1,500,000. We believe he is arousing sufficient interest to put it through.
Mr. O'Connor told us his organization was now working on a plan to have the Federal Government lay aside 100,000 acres of land for a National Park, about fifty miles south of here, the section in which lies the Royal Palm Hammock. This would be the only National Park in the United States that would be accessible the year round, and would give the Federal Government a reservation wherein our beautiful plumed birds, such as the flamingo and other rare species, protection from pot hunters. He thought these birds would become extinct in from three to five years if they were not given this protection.
The first consideration with tourists, Mr. O'Connor said, was climate,—and we had a 6% better all-year-round climate than California. The next was distance; and New York and Chicago would save 3,000 miles on a round trip by coming to Florida. But the most important thing he ig'aid, was that Lee County should be opened up and developed so that the nation could be fed with its products. We have an all-year-round growing climate, and one of the most staple products of the nation was sugar, which Florida could easily supply the country with in a very few years, not to mention Irish potatoes and all kinds of vegetables.
Florida is on the boom, and the eyes of the nation are looking toward her. But there are other reasons for this activity, and particularly in this favored section, that the world is not conscious of, but of which Koreshans are fully cognizant. As KORESH says, the "New Jerusalem is to be the heart and center of the coming kingdom of righteousinesis in the earth; the place where the consociation of such as would renew their lives, may aggregate in the heart of the kingdom."
"The New Jerusalem at Estero, Florida, is located on the mainland and islands of the Estero Bay, and on the islands fronting the Gulf of Mexico, that is, outside keys bordering on the waters of the Gulf and forming the west boundary of the Bay of Estero. It is the purpose of the Unity in constructing the New City; to create an outside harbor that will accommodate shipping of the deepest draught. The harbor is to be formed by building broad and solid structures long distances toward and into the Gulf of Mexico, with right angle wharfs and docks that will act as breakwaters against the Gulf storms. This will require time and labor, but the accomplishment is simple.
"Without the necessity for great engineering skill, there can be developed a veritable Venice of America, far surpassing any city ever constructed in any stage of the world's history,—at least during the last twenty-four thousand years. It would be impossible to express in language the possibilities awaiting those who are and who become pioneers in the construction of the prospective city. In holding out these inducements for the aggregation of a righteous people purified from the lusts of the flesh and separated from the influences of Babylon (the competitive system), we but emphasize the promises of the Lord and his Apostles regarding the glory to be revealed in those who seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness." (F. S., March, 1896.)
Prof. Clarence Snyder with a number of students from his Outdoor School at Captiva, Fla., made the Unity a visit, camping overnight on our grounds. Prof. Snyder has 36 students in his school this year, collected from various points of the United States, and as fine a bunch of boys as anyone could wish to meet. His scholars are taught all the grades with advanced studies for those ready to enter college. We appreciate the fact that Prof. Snyder never misses an opportunity to have his boys visit the Koreshan Unity, and we are glad to have them. His school received the highest endorsement from the late revered Theodore Roosevelt, and it being here speaks volumes for Lee County.
Four members from the K. U. Orchestra, Brothers Allen Andrews, Prof. Schoedler, Robert Campbell, and Floyd Moreland, made the Captiva School a visit to entertain them with music, as well as to be entertained, and they report having had a most delightful time.
We quote from Estero notes in The American Eagle of April 6, the following: "Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Wallace of Fort Myers were in Estero last Thursday with the following party: Col. Harry B. Butler and assistant, Miss Verna B. Thornhill of U. S. Public Health Service, Washington, D. C.; Eugene L. Dakin, of Fort Myers and Bangor, Me.; Mrs. S. L. Kimball, Bangor, Me.; Mrs. Laura Moore, Effington, 111., and Mrs. W. F. Gwynne, Fort Myers. A porch supper was served the party by Mrs. B. S. Boomer and Miss Bertha Boomer, after which they repaired to the Art Hall, where an impromptu concert was given them by the K. U. Orchestra. Mr. Eugene L. Dakin of the party, who located recently in Fort Myers, has invested heavily there, having built fifteen houses and brought some thirty people there within the past year."
We might say in addition that through the courtesy of Col. Harry B. Butler, we had the pleasure of two reels at our movie entertainment of April 8, issued by the U. S. Public Health, on "The Care of the Teeth." The reels besides being very entertaining, were exceedingly instructive, showing how imperative good teeth were to good health, a truth oftentimes ignored and lost sight of.
The Unity had a most delightful visit from Mrs. Frazier, from the Province of Alberta, Canada, and Mrs. Daniels, of Toronto, their principal object being to see the Koreshan Unity. Coming from such a long distance their visit was entirely too brief; needless to say, however, they were much impressed with Estero and surroundings.
Sister Jennie Campbell, as she is familiarly known in the Unity, arrived in Estero recently from New York City. Her neice, Miss Jessie Stevenson, from Colorado, has been a guest at the Campbell home for several weeks, but has now returned to Colorado; her aunt, Mrs. Logan, who has been in Estero for over a year, returning with her. Miss Stevenson, too, is delighted with Estero, and hopes some day to make a return visit.
We regret to announce in this issue that on the 5th of April a disastrous fire broke out in our dairy barn, and reduced it to complete ruins in a few hours, and fpr a, short time severely threatened other build ings. We luckily managed to get what live stock there was out by the narrowest margin. Work was progressing nicely on our new electric light plant, but this now will be temporarily checked till we build suitable shelter for our fine Jersey herd of cattle.
From various parts of the country we hear echoes from our February Industrial Exhibit. The committees of the exhibit are still functioning, and meet once a month to discuss ways and means for the exhibit to be held a year hence; the probabilities are that we'll erect a special building for our fair of 1923. It was decided at our last meeting that the entertainment committee arrange to give a play once every two months or oftener, so as to keep in practice and work up a repertoire. The dramatic work is under the direction of Bertie Boomer, and a play is now in progress to be given the latter part of April.
The Florida State Press Association is holding a convention at Daytona, Fla., at the present writing, and The American Eagle is represented by its editor, Brother Allen Andrews.
The K. U. Orchestra gave a most interesting concert on Saturday evening, April 8. Besides the instrumental music, Mrs. Guy Smith sang a group of songs as follows: (a) "Crossing the Bar" by Dudley Buck; (b) "Recessional" by De Koven, and (c) "The Laird of Cock Pen" (old Scoth song), besides singing two duets with Brother George Hunt: "Larboard Watch" and "Home to Our Mountains."
BY D. J. RICHARDS
April 1922
A new organization, known as the Taxpayers League was recently organized in this southern end of Lee County, with Brother Allen Andrews as its chairman. The purpose of the organization is to keep tab on how the business of this section is conducted, and to see that the taxpayers get value received for the money expended. At a recent meeting of the above League held at Bonita Springs (the adjoining town south of Estero), which a number from the Unity attended, we had the pleasure of listening to a most interesting talk by Mr. Chas. O'Connor, Field Organizer of the American Automobile Association, on what this organization was doing in behalf of good roads throughout the United States as well as foreign countries.
This organization has its headquarters in New York and Chicago, and consists now of over a million members. It was organized when there were but few automobiles, in the country, by a few millionaires whose principal hobby was good roadsi. What they have accomplished sounds like a dream from fairy land; but as Mr. O'Connor remarked at the beginning of his talk, he was not there to make a flowery speech, but simply to state facts and give statistics. He took us from one end of the country to the other; but what concerns us most, however, is his mission in Florida, particularly Lee County.
Mr. O'Connor said that last year they had over 8,000 inquiries from members of their organization, as to how they could reach Lee County, Fla., but with great reluctance their officers were obliged to inform them to keep away from Lee County because the roads were in no fit condition for travel,—which is the truth, with the result that only 100 cars reached Fort Myers, our county seat. Counting five persons to a car, 500 persons got to Lee County, instead of 40,000 had the conditions been otherwise.
Mr. O'Connor painted a vivid picture of what this meant to Lee County; that we lost about $3,500,000 for our indifference this year alone, and that he was here to arouse us to the need of connecting up with other trunk lines in the state and get ready to get some of this business by next winter. This he thought could be done if the county got busy right away and bonded itself for $1,500,000. We believe he is arousing sufficient interest to put it through.
Mr. O'Connor told us his organization was now working on a plan to have the Federal Government lay aside 100,000 acres of land for a National Park, about fifty miles south of here, the section in which lies the Royal Palm Hammock. This would be the only National Park in the United States that would be accessible the year round, and would give the Federal Government a reservation wherein our beautiful plumed birds, such as the flamingo and other rare species, protection from pot hunters. He thought these birds would become extinct in from three to five years if they were not given this protection.
The first consideration with tourists, Mr. O'Connor said, was climate,—and we had a 6% better all-year-round climate than California. The next was distance; and New York and Chicago would save 3,000 miles on a round trip by coming to Florida. But the most important thing he ig'aid, was that Lee County should be opened up and developed so that the nation could be fed with its products. We have an all-year-round growing climate, and one of the most staple products of the nation was sugar, which Florida could easily supply the country with in a very few years, not to mention Irish potatoes and all kinds of vegetables.
Florida is on the boom, and the eyes of the nation are looking toward her. But there are other reasons for this activity, and particularly in this favored section, that the world is not conscious of, but of which Koreshans are fully cognizant. As KORESH says, the "New Jerusalem is to be the heart and center of the coming kingdom of righteousinesis in the earth; the place where the consociation of such as would renew their lives, may aggregate in the heart of the kingdom."
"The New Jerusalem at Estero, Florida, is located on the mainland and islands of the Estero Bay, and on the islands fronting the Gulf of Mexico, that is, outside keys bordering on the waters of the Gulf and forming the west boundary of the Bay of Estero. It is the purpose of the Unity in constructing the New City; to create an outside harbor that will accommodate shipping of the deepest draught. The harbor is to be formed by building broad and solid structures long distances toward and into the Gulf of Mexico, with right angle wharfs and docks that will act as breakwaters against the Gulf storms. This will require time and labor, but the accomplishment is simple.
"Without the necessity for great engineering skill, there can be developed a veritable Venice of America, far surpassing any city ever constructed in any stage of the world's history,—at least during the last twenty-four thousand years. It would be impossible to express in language the possibilities awaiting those who are and who become pioneers in the construction of the prospective city. In holding out these inducements for the aggregation of a righteous people purified from the lusts of the flesh and separated from the influences of Babylon (the competitive system), we but emphasize the promises of the Lord and his Apostles regarding the glory to be revealed in those who seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness." (F. S., March, 1896.)
Prof. Clarence Snyder with a number of students from his Outdoor School at Captiva, Fla., made the Unity a visit, camping overnight on our grounds. Prof. Snyder has 36 students in his school this year, collected from various points of the United States, and as fine a bunch of boys as anyone could wish to meet. His scholars are taught all the grades with advanced studies for those ready to enter college. We appreciate the fact that Prof. Snyder never misses an opportunity to have his boys visit the Koreshan Unity, and we are glad to have them. His school received the highest endorsement from the late revered Theodore Roosevelt, and it being here speaks volumes for Lee County.
Four members from the K. U. Orchestra, Brothers Allen Andrews, Prof. Schoedler, Robert Campbell, and Floyd Moreland, made the Captiva School a visit to entertain them with music, as well as to be entertained, and they report having had a most delightful time.
We quote from Estero notes in The American Eagle of April 6, the following: "Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Wallace of Fort Myers were in Estero last Thursday with the following party: Col. Harry B. Butler and assistant, Miss Verna B. Thornhill of U. S. Public Health Service, Washington, D. C.; Eugene L. Dakin, of Fort Myers and Bangor, Me.; Mrs. S. L. Kimball, Bangor, Me.; Mrs. Laura Moore, Effington, 111., and Mrs. W. F. Gwynne, Fort Myers. A porch supper was served the party by Mrs. B. S. Boomer and Miss Bertha Boomer, after which they repaired to the Art Hall, where an impromptu concert was given them by the K. U. Orchestra. Mr. Eugene L. Dakin of the party, who located recently in Fort Myers, has invested heavily there, having built fifteen houses and brought some thirty people there within the past year."
We might say in addition that through the courtesy of Col. Harry B. Butler, we had the pleasure of two reels at our movie entertainment of April 8, issued by the U. S. Public Health, on "The Care of the Teeth." The reels besides being very entertaining, were exceedingly instructive, showing how imperative good teeth were to good health, a truth oftentimes ignored and lost sight of.
The Unity had a most delightful visit from Mrs. Frazier, from the Province of Alberta, Canada, and Mrs. Daniels, of Toronto, their principal object being to see the Koreshan Unity. Coming from such a long distance their visit was entirely too brief; needless to say, however, they were much impressed with Estero and surroundings.
Sister Jennie Campbell, as she is familiarly known in the Unity, arrived in Estero recently from New York City. Her neice, Miss Jessie Stevenson, from Colorado, has been a guest at the Campbell home for several weeks, but has now returned to Colorado; her aunt, Mrs. Logan, who has been in Estero for over a year, returning with her. Miss Stevenson, too, is delighted with Estero, and hopes some day to make a return visit.
We regret to announce in this issue that on the 5th of April a disastrous fire broke out in our dairy barn, and reduced it to complete ruins in a few hours, and fpr a, short time severely threatened other build ings. We luckily managed to get what live stock there was out by the narrowest margin. Work was progressing nicely on our new electric light plant, but this now will be temporarily checked till we build suitable shelter for our fine Jersey herd of cattle.
From various parts of the country we hear echoes from our February Industrial Exhibit. The committees of the exhibit are still functioning, and meet once a month to discuss ways and means for the exhibit to be held a year hence; the probabilities are that we'll erect a special building for our fair of 1923. It was decided at our last meeting that the entertainment committee arrange to give a play once every two months or oftener, so as to keep in practice and work up a repertoire. The dramatic work is under the direction of Bertie Boomer, and a play is now in progress to be given the latter part of April.
The Florida State Press Association is holding a convention at Daytona, Fla., at the present writing, and The American Eagle is represented by its editor, Brother Allen Andrews.
The K. U. Orchestra gave a most interesting concert on Saturday evening, April 8. Besides the instrumental music, Mrs. Guy Smith sang a group of songs as follows: (a) "Crossing the Bar" by Dudley Buck; (b) "Recessional" by De Koven, and (c) "The Laird of Cock Pen" (old Scoth song), besides singing two duets with Brother George Hunt: "Larboard Watch" and "Home to Our Mountains."
Author:
[various]
Category:
8: Communication Artifact
Object Name:
Periodical
Subcategory:
Documentary Artifact
Phys Desc:
24 p.
Publisher:
Guiding Star Publishing House
Publication Place:
Estero, Fl.
Search Terms:
Flaming Sword
Community Current Events
Community Current Events
Subjects:
Periodicals——Theology