If I were to sum up what I have learned about the history and development of the Pacific Northwest and our community, the term "resource exploitation" continues to resonate in my brain. Whether it be coal, timber, fisheries, or the promise of homesteading, people came here to exploit these then bountiful resources.
In short order, however, fish stocks began to decline, Native American populations were displaced, timber became sparse and harder to access, homestead lands proved to be problematic and coal mine hazards increased, leading to the loss of many lives. The concept of Natural Resource Conservation for the future was totally foreign. So, one of my missions in learning has been to better understand the concept of resource conservation - when and where did the concept of conservation start, how did "government" respond and where are we now. Big undertaking for sure but important to me for understanding and I hope that you will bear with me as I work my way through these important historical and current issues.
Who among us has not read Henry David Thoreau and Waldon Pond first published in 1854?
This was Massachusetts during the mid 1800's as the blow back from previous exploitative development began to exact a visible toll on local resources. In his seminal work, Thoreau is often credited with beginning the first national conversation about the need for conservation.
In the Northwest at this time, the tribes still ruled and managed these resources sustainably. All of this was about to change, however, when Congress passed the Homestead and Railroad Acts of 1862 encouraging settlement of the west.
Meanwhile, concerns in the Northeast and upper Midwest about increased erosion, deteriorating water quality and timber supplies continued to grow. Lessons to be learned from Germany and the loss of their forests gained prominence. Fish stocks also declined in the east prompting Congress in 1871 to pass a "Joint Resolution for the Protection and Preservation of the Food Fishes of the Coast of the United States", authorizing the President to appoint a commissioner of fish and fisheries to investigate the declining numbers of coastal and lake food fishes, and to recommend remedial measures to Congress.
In the west, Frederick Law Olmsted submitted his report a "Preliminary Report upon the Yosemite and Big Tree Grove" to the Commissioners of California's new Yosemite park in 1865. This work first systematically established a philosophical justification for public preservation of great natural scenery on the basis of its unique capacity to enhance human psychological, physical, and social health.
German biologist Ernst Haeckel is credited with having coined the term "ecology" in 1866 as the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
In 1869, Olmsted and colleagues turned their attention to Niagara Falls and seeking ways to restore and preserve this iconic national treasure so defaced and exploited by private developers. Their efforts finally bore fruit with creation of the Reservation in 1885. Because of it's location near eastern population centers, this effort played a significant role in raising the consciousness of the public and congress in the need for and value of conservation and preservation.
1872 marked another significant milestone. Congress passed "An Act to set apart a certain Tract of Land lying near the Head-waters of the Yellowstone River as a public Park", thus establishing Yellowstone National Park, the first in the history of the nation and of the world.
In other notable steps, concerned biologists and botanists formed the American Forestry Association in 1875 and in 1876 John Muir published "God's First Temples: How Shall We Preserve Our Forests?". In 1880, the American Forestry Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science advocated designation of Western timberland as permanent public reservations. This marked the beginning of what would prove to be a major battle over the future of western forests and national parks.
What differentiated the debate about western forests from that of preserving Niagara Falls was ownership - property around Niagara Falls was privately owned and eventually required purchase by the State of New York for preservation. Perhaps a precursor to the eminent domain debates of today. In the west, forests were already publicly owned, excepting those lands given to the railroads by congress as an incentive for building transcontinental railways. Here we had those that wished to exploit these resources pitted against preservationists.
Importantly, by 1890, the debate began to shift. Preservation of land for National Parks continued to be a priority, including the creation of Mt. Rainier National Park in 1899, but at a big picture level, the total number of acres at play here were small. For the millions and millions of acres of publicly owned forest land, the focus of debate began to move from preservation to scientific management. More about this in future posts as we reach 1900 and my true heroes of the 20th century.
P.S. If you haven't had the opportunity to view the PBS Ken Burns documentaries The National Parks: America's Best Idea, I encourage you to do so. Great history readily available on CD from the library or Netflix and other movie providers.
