The Ordway new era., 1918-03-29
Interesting Letter
From Sunny South

Following is an interesting letter
from d. C. Roberts of Ordway. who.
with Mrs. Roberts, have been spend
iLg the winter at Cocoanut Grove.
Florida.
wonder If anybody has analyzed
the well water around Ordway. Sup
pose II should prove rich in potash
like the small lakes in Nebraska and
the big lake In California. What a
fortune we would have at our doors.
| When the Ordway water company
dug a well near Wards corner, we
struck limpid water. bitter enough
to make weary Kansas traveller
say: Its bitter. hell must be near J"
| Possibly 1t was the potash In 1t that
reminded him of his natural place
of residence. II Nebraska and Cali
! fornia has fortunes in bitter slkali
water. why not this whole valley.
from Pueblo to our east line-"there's
reason"
Florida has taken in many sheok-
les this year from the gullible tourist
The season is at its height. but many
will return home next week wiser
IL not wealthier.
Our big hotel men run great hos
telries here in winter and resume at
Atlantic City or Asbury Park In sum-
mer. They have done well. Isn't
every fool can run a hotel profitably
you know.
The "Glades" are still in the water
altho many buyers are investing. It's
only a question of time and money
when Florida will produce sugar ga
lore. Truck is very late this year
80 hn md
January, but the tomatoes, beans.
Strawberries. peppers. ETC., are NOV
Ing north now rapidly.
Cocoanut Grove has been invaded.
The very air is full of birdmen. The
aviation camp is here and one sees
a dozen machines in the air any time
of day. This week they have deaf
ened onr ears with the target shoot
ing. mile high.
One surely realizes that Uncle Sam
is getting prepared. The war spirit
is intensifying steadily. We are Just
beginning to hate the Huns. and
every man, woman and child is ready
to Join in and help in some way.
Even in our late Civil war we never
were such a unit, in the North. and
not more so in the South, as now
against Germany.
Wilson is supported by every true
American and l believe by most of
our German population. A few pro-
German sympathizers can make big
noise and bring their fellow country
men into disrepute. but can not help
thinking that the great body OF our
German population is loyal to U. S.
So in our hatred. let us be just. The
kaiser and his Potsdam gang should
be our target here as we'll as abroad.
The Colored town near this resort
has a whole company OF boys ready
for the camp training. Many enlisted
at first call. Fine looking Bahama
negroes mostly.
Richard. a stalwart fellow. worked
for me 13 years ago. l knew him
to be an Episcopal choir leader at
that time. and a fine voice he had.
On returning several years later
found him to he Baptist preacher
orchard, 1 thought you used to
be an Episcopalian."
"Truly, l was. Mr.. Roberts, but
I got converted you see."
A few days later Richard called for
donation for their new church to
be built soon.
How many churches have you
Richard. over in colored town.
Five" said he.
"All crowded on Sunday I sup
pose"
mo sub. ubt we'se Close Com
munists and can't worship wifi de free
Baptists."
Colored town has about 1000 dark
les. A little less than Ordway popu-
lation but same number of church
es. The same spirit in the negro
race that white people have. 1 won
der II the war will change us any.
Before I left Colorado, three minis
ters left Greeley for the war front.
Their churches agreed to unite on one
man. I hear similar reports from
other towns occasionally. The aues-
tion with me has been for years at
Ordway-Why do we keep apart?
And l have never solved 1t.
d. C. ROBERTS.
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