ABSTRACT

Attitudes to the land and its resources changed as American society evolved. The 20th century began with tremendous optimism. There was no limit to the use to which nature might be put. Behind such arrogance, there was unease at the waste and loss. Thoreau, Marsh and various scientific bodies had counselled moderation in the pursuit of America’s Manifest Destiny, but their impact had been minimal (Swain, 1963, p1). The millions who were often literally fleeing deprivation in Europe, and those capitalizing upon such a labour force, saw America as a land of plenty. Again, it was typically the Eastern Seaboard, and more particularly those of wealth and privilege, who saw the urgency of a new kind of ethic, which came to be called Progressive conservation. It emphasized productivity through scientific study and centralized management. Resources had to be cultivated in a way which maintained both economic growth and social well-being (Rothman, 2000, pp3–10).