The Harmful Effects of Timbering

How does the role of political relation and legislation that affect the whole step attention today comp ar to that of a one hundred eld ago? In the archaeozoic years of due west Virginias utterhood in that respect was a g overnment that tried to chassis its own identity. Starting come forth as an under true offer that was prosperous in natural resources, there was an necessity to erect attention within westward Virginia. Upon examination of atomic number 74 Virginia today, one potful follow the same desire to respect and increase industriousness in the commonwealth. It is my impression that today, as well as a hundred years ago, the government views effort as its top anteriority versus postulate residents and the safety of the environment. I allow for now attempt to comp ar and occupation the role political science and legislation has vie in the growth and development of the baseball bat application in the state of West Virginia for the last 100 years. In the early years of West Virginia statehood a explicit emphasis was put on industrial growth. Before this industrial growth there was a revolution that took place. As a result of the Constitution of 1863, the legal philosophy became to a greater extent than industry oriented and moved past from being a encourageor of school of thought and culture. Following the Constitution of 1872, there was a facilitation to allow the transfer of land from smallholders to the char and pound companies (Lewis p.103-105).One of the main goals in the early years of statehood in West Virginia was to establish a strong, striving private-enterprise(prenominal) economy. However, their ideas on how to achieve this varied passim the state. Should the state remain an agricultural society, or move to an industrial society? This deal continued, and this is when the role government played in the economy was determined (Lewis p. 106).As the feeling industry grew in West Virginia rammen began to b eg that the law help them to overcome their wishing of capital so they could develop the states resources. The peachyest problem at this time was the lack of transportation. The government began to deem the step industry. Corporations were given the right to dam streams or change their flow, with legal license (Lewis p.107).Ronald Lewis, author of Transforming the Appalachian Countryside, writes thatPublic bonus to improve irrigate transportation for forestland was never undertaken in West Virginia, in particular in comparison to with the public supporterance provided to railroads. The lumber industry during this period developed no giant corporations that could compare with the railroads, and so its ability to exert political military unit was comparatively limited. It was through validating stimulation that the law promoted investment in the lumber industry, which conformed the theme of nineteenth century policy (Lewis p.108).The tonicity industry flourished throu gh an indirect stimulus of breaks given and provided to the railroads.Legislators gave entrepreneurs mevery rights to assist with industrial growth, such as expression dams across streams or changing the cart track of a stream, so long as it did not interfere with steamboats and other lumber companies. If a log washed up on someones own(prenominal) property and they disturbed it within the head start ten days, they were punishable by law (Lewis p.108).According to Ronald Lewis it is the belief of James Willard Hurst, a prominent legal scholar and I concur, that the government sided with business and exploited the people. at that place is enough evidence of court decisions and legislation that favors industry and business over the general man, to validate Hursts belief.The previous paragraphs take in an industry that thrived although it has slowed down somewhat in the last 100 years. Now, I am going to examine the wood industry in West Virginia today. My source entrust be Ke n cellblocks articles that put one over appeared in the Charleston print about the regulations imposed on the timber industry. Wards articles, in my opinion, are biased in favor of the timber industry. However, when writing upon a subject that is so controversial, it is nearly impossible to not argue a bias.An examination of how things know changed, leave not show a great deal. However, it is safe to study that to a greater extent money changes hands today. Today there are more regulations, mostly where permits and licenses are relate than 100 years ago. Anyone who is beaming timber operations, acquire timber, or buying logs for resale has to obtain a permit from the division of Forestry (Ward, State timbering law). To ready and keep this license, applicants have to pay $50 a year. At every timber operation there has to be at least one person who has absolute a certification course from the segmentation of Forestry. This person is trained in original aid, soil erosion p revention, and safe conduct of timbering (Ward, State timbering law).The Forestry Division is supposed to be notified within three days of some(prenominal) and all timbering operations. The notification should include the names of those who own the timber. There should also be included a sketch subprogram of the location complete with roads utilize for the hauling and stream crossings (Ward, State timbering law).In Ken Wards article, Critics ordain more rules are necessary, but backers recount present law is sufficient, a Morgantown geologist, Richard diPretoro state that he believes the timber industry is under-regulated, comparatively speaking.The blacken industry, which is much bigger than timbering in West Virginia today, has much stricter regulations.Strip Miners have to return the land to previous class when they are finished. Those in the timber industry can leave the land any way they so desire (Ward, Critics say more rules).Loggers are supposed to go along a set o f guidelines known as best management practices. These are a set of voluntary guidelines set up to protect the environment. Environmentalist would like to see regulations for the timber industry become more stringent. However, the director of the state Division of Forestry, story Maxey, feels that they have more regulations than they need.Im not sure that Bill Maxeys statement is free of prejudice, because the Division of Forestry is accountable for overseeing loggers and well as promoting the growth of woodwind product businesses. In my opinion, that would be remainder of interest.Many people interviewed in Wards article discuss how the environmental damage done by the coal industry is more harmful and pass on last longer than that of the timber industry. Joel Stopha, a wood products marketing specialist, states, Poor timber harvesting practices will cause totally a few years of water system quality problems(Ward, Critics say more rules). We have the means to ensure that we h ave no water quality problems whatsoever.So, how does the role of politics and legislation compare in regards to the timber industry today to that of 100 years ago? I believe that the state government is still mainly cogitate on the growth of industry in West Virginia just as we were in the beginning of our statehood.Today we see more regulation in the form of polar fees and licenses required. As with everything else in this world, things change. Of course, the timber industry is no different. However, other than the natural changes that occur, there really has not been a extensive change in the fact that the state government still favors industry over the state residents and this is reflected in the way the state government is failing to enforce the laws that protect the bodies of water in this state by allowing the timber industry to contaminate bodies of water even if it is for only a play off of years.