[at-l] Trail History Clarification Requested

[rickboudrie at hotmail.com (rick boudrie)]

If I understood Jim Owen's post correctly, he is saying the AT was aquired 
"very often by condemnation thus breaking faith with the people who welcomed 
the trail in the first place."

Can anyone provide additional information on this?  If possible, with more 
than an anectdote about a person who was "screwed" by the ATC and NPS, but 
rather with information that addresses the degree to which the AT was 
aquired this way.  My interest is getting a handle on the "very frequently" 
part.

I am less interested in hearing about how the NPS condemded land over which 
the trail passes in the Smokines and SNP and the BRP for reasons that had 
had nothing to do with the AT, than I am interested in the kinds of 
condemnations of land alluded to by Jim.

I have no doubt some have been screwed by the Trail and other entities in 
the name of some greater good, real or perceived.  One of my favorite places 
to walk and look for porkies around here is around a reservior in central MA 
where you can wonder along and roads and celler holes representing entire 
towns.  Those people got screwed by the thousands, but at least Boston has 
water.  I have no doubt that people have been screwed specifically to form 
National Parks, and the AT.

But have thousands  parcels of the AT been aquired by condemnation?  
Hundreds?  Scores?  Or just a few.   And to put things in perspective, does 
anyone have a notion to what percentage of Trail Miles these represent?

And of these condemnations, how how many were instigated or associated with 
the AT project, thus breaking the faith of the people who welcomed the Trail 
in the first place.   We all know about the Smokies and SNP, but that I 
think that is a whole seperate kettle of fish.  Like Jim Owen, I have 
learned to question what I read.  By doing so, please understand that I am 
not saying he is wrong or challenging his manhood. He may well be right that 
the AT was aquired "very often by condemnation thus breaking the faith with 
the people who welcomed the Trail in the first place".  Perhaps there are 
numbers and data to back this up?

Rick B

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