Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-31
MAN AND THE EARTH
The Relation of Human Industries to Ter
restrisl Environments.
The Progress Made by Man In skill
and I'm Comprehension Of the
Resources of Nature.


thropological Society last evening at the
Columbian University the president of the
society, DR.. Otis T. Mason. delivered the
annual address, his subject being Tech
photography; the Relation of the Earth to
Human Industries" The address proved
very interesting, and the speaker was
warmly congratulated.
He explained that by technogeography is
meant the study of the relationship be-
tween the earth and human arts and in
ventions. Anthropogeography is the con-
sideration of the earth in its broad connec-
lions with the whole science of man, in
GLIDING his body and his mind, his arts,
languages, social structures, PHILOSOPHERS
and religions. OF this broader study there
are many subdivisions; but, at this time,
your attention will be directed to. the &C
tivities of men as effected and affected by
the earth. to which study the term techno-
geography is applied.
The arts of mankind have changed the
face of nature. and some charming books
have been written upon the subject of the
earth modified by human action; but now
We are to trace out few Of the great in
dustries of our race. as they were pro-
| voked and developed by their terrestrial
environment in short, human actions as
they were shaped and modified by the
earth. In the nrst place, remember that
every act, in every trade and every climate
and every status OF culture, involves hve
material elements-raw materials and their
qualities, motive power. tools or machinery.
processes and products OF activity.
human Wants and Needs.
Remember. secondly, that ali voluntary
human actions are carried on to satisfy
human wants or needs-bodily. mental. spir-
itual and social from the lowest animal
| cravings for food. clothing, shelter and rest
TO the highest aspirations Of the most ex-
allied souls. and that these needs have been
developed and organized by a larger and
larger acquaintance with the earth and Its
resources.
Tor gratifying desires may be grouped into
the Following classes. together constituting
| cycie ana eacn involving the flve ele-
ments before named:
fishing hunting. cleaning. numbering min.
ing. some of these may be enlarged BY
cultivation and domestication.
= Carrying. hauling, transporting. in any
stage OF manipulation.
D. Manufacture. changing the physical
chemical, or vital form or the size or shape
OF materials for some useful eEd.
A. Exchange. barter. buying, selling, with
all the handling that Is involved.
| 5. Consumption. The storing and using
up of the finished product either 10 wear
1t out. or to make ii the raw material OF
another cycle of activities Of the same kind
In brief. the sum of human industries are
the arts of-exploitation, cultivation, man.
ufacture transportation, exchange, con.
sumption, extremely simple in primitive
life, infinitely complicated in civilization.
Before Columbus Came.
Barter and long journeys. cultivation OF
plants and domestication Of animals. the
use of machinery and the storage OF food
mai rnf
leans. In one grave near Chilicothe. Ohio
were found copper from Northern Michi.
gan, obsidian from Yellowstone Park mica
from North Carolina. pyrula shells from the
Gulf Of Mexico. Slave hunting and Other
causes set the African negroes on the
move before the days Of recorded history
SO that there Is no longer a negro race
Their original neighborhood is not known
their languages are better means of CLASH
hcation than themselves. their arts ar.
hopelessly mixed.
In the partnership between man and tn,
eartn, the progress Of culture has been from
naturaltsm to artifcialism, from expioita
ton to cultivation and domestication; from
mere muscular power to more subtle physi
cal iorce-of man, OF beast. Of water. o.
air, OF hre OF electricity: from tools to ma
chinery; from simplest Initiative processe.
to highly complex processes involving man,
materials and motive powers and inycn
lions from short journeys to long journeys
from mere barter to world-embracing com
merce: from monotonous and monorxanf,
food and clothing. shelter and furniture
| mental and social appliances, to forms a,
complex and varied as the imagination car
conceive. And when the supply gives out
| II Is not the earth that fails but IL is IN,
| comprehension and the skill of men. tn,
race that used to drag out centuries II
learning one letter Of the Industrial alpha
bet. and leaving its offspring to repeat tn,
process, now catches new secrets in ever,
hour and perpetuates the understanding O.
them for posterfty.
In conclusion DR.. Mason called attention
to the benefcent effect Of the alliance be
tween mans arts and the earth. The Law
| seems to be one Of mutual blessing ant
| mutual cursing. Poor farmers, poor fisher
| men, poor miners occupy the worst land o.
fishing grounds or mines. Each mutual,
degrades and impoverishes the other. tn,
| reverse Is true Of the shrewd and industr1
GUS Now. what Is true Of these stngl,
| workers was true OF tribes herds. races
peoples. The true progress looks FORWARD
I to time when the whole earth will hay,
been exploited, every pernicious plant ant
animal and man or tribe OF men removed
and all that Is good domesticated: wher
the powers OF nature are all ha rnessei o.
| ensaved, when distance and time will one,
| no impeachment to commerce, when II vfl
| be as easy to put production and consump
| ton In friendly union at the springiny IN o
| desire as IL was for the primitive man O.
| woman. The earth will be subdued by men
| who will say to the mountains: .'Be v,
removed and be We cast into the sea. ana 4
shall be DONE and the desert shall blossom
| as the rose"