[at-l] MacKay WAS Same old, Same Old---

[carol1944 at brmemc.net (Carol Donaldson)]

"An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning", 
MacKaye's original proposal for the AT that was published in the October 
1921 Journal of the American Institute of Architects. It was not a "sales 
pitch to government" and it is interesting to note that the ***1st*** of 
the features he listed as being part of the proposed project was "the trail".
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Doncha think maybe that MacKay never envisioned the spread of the industrial revolution and the explosion of technology?

Who knew in 1921 that humans would progress beyond "Fuelwood, logs, and lumber are other basic needs of the camps and communities along the trail. These also might be grown and forested as part of the camp activity, rather than bought in the lumber market."

Fuelwood?????  Food and lumber were all he envisioned people in the communities near the Trail would need.  (I note that he failed to mention a LOT of things that people living in 'community' need beyond food and fuelwood.)   He didn't see beyond the simple life.  We have airports, Interstate highways, space stations, nuclear plants, microwaves, television, the internet.  We have the complex life that wasn't even dreamed about in 1921.

Anyway.  All that is a moot point today, isn't it?  We're in 2005 and we can't return to 1921 even if we wanted to.  We take what is and try to preserve it or conserve it.

And that's the best we can do.  The Trail is already a reality.  Does it meets MacKay's or Avery's specifications?  Like most of our 'dreams' it probably meets them to the best of the abilities of those who worked and currently work for the ATC and other related organizations.
 
(How's that Mr Bullard?)

Coosa  -- 60, blonde and proud