[at-l] Appalachian Trail history question

[ellen at clinic.net (Bob C)]

MacKaye was writing in a planning journal in an era fascinated by socialism and the Russian revolution that showed considerable promise in the early years.

He wrote extensively after that on many topics and a decade or so later joined Bob Marshall in forming the Wilderness Society. 

Mackaye was not an idiot. An idiot would have stuck with his original plan. He revised his thinking greatly as the years went by. He revised his thinking as the needs that he perceived were needed changed.

Weary

> ------------Original Message------------
> From: rcli4@comcast.net
> To: at-l@backcountry.net
> Date: Thu, Oct-27-2005 3:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [at-l] Appalachian Trail history question
> 
> Thanks for posting the link to The regional planning article.  I have 
> read pieces of it over the years but have never really read it and 
> contemplated what was proposed.  I can't believe anyone would have any 
> question about what MacKaye thought was the purpose of the trail.  He states 
> it pretty clearly.
> 
> It's purpose is to establish a base for more extensive and systematic 
> development of outdoor community life.
> 
>  He goes on to say that fully one percent of the U.S. population could 
> be housed in these camps at any given time. that is about 3 million 
> people or one person every four foot of the trail.  He suggest that 21,740 
> acres be set aside for housing and growing food. and 434,000 be set 
> aside for harvesting timber.  If you assume a twenty year turn around for 
> timber growth there would be approximately one half mile out of ten 
> (Ten miles being the spacing of camps) that would be harvested each year. 
> There would be at least 13,825 people at each camp.  Sounds more like 
> Disney World than the trail we know today.  
> MacKaye was either extremely short sighted or an idiot.  I haven't read 
> enough of his writing to determine which, but after reading his article 
> I am leaning towards idiot..  If I miss read his article please let me 
> know.  
> Clyde
> 
> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> 3,000,000 million visit
> 21740 for camps
> 434,000 acres for wood cutting
> 13825 at each camp
> 
> 
> > Nancy wrote: 
> > > Rock Dancer, 
> > > Get the "Member Handbook" from the ATC. It gives the history of the 
> AT. I 
> > > have the 13th edition. 
> > > 304-535-6331 
> > > P.O. Box 807 Harper's Ferry, WV 25425-0807 
> > > http://www.appalachiantrail.org 
> > > 
> > > Slim aka Nancy 
> > 
> > Hey Slim, hope all is well. There's a history link on the site too. 
> > http://tinyurl.com/aex5k 
> > 
> > Steve 
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