Alanna O’Neil
ESS Greenwood Furnace Essay
The presentation at Greenwood Furnace State Park was exceptionally informative with topics ranging from the history of the iron industry, to environmental history, and ended explaining the presenter’s research resources, techniques, and problems. As it turns out, the Juniata Iron District left a huge legacy behind that should be celebrated by many. The Juniata Valley became the principle iron-producing district in the United States, producing approximately 50% of the iron in Pennsylvania and 20% of the iron in the United States.
After the Albany Purchase, settlers came to Juniata in the 1750s. In 1767, the first iron ores were discovered. These good quality ores, once praised by Eli Whitney, proved …show more content…
Also, the furnaces covered large areas with soot, affecting water supply and damaging habitats. A larger environmental impact at the time was the clear-cutting of forests in order to run the furnaces. Greenwood furnace clear-cut nearly 300 acres of trees annually. However, because trees were needed for them to stay in business they practiced sustainable yield forestry. A major environmental problem associated with clear-cutting is increased carbon dioxide levels. Trees are a major carbon sink, meaning that they take in more carbon than they release. By cutting them down you are not only preventing from further carbon absorption, you are also releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere. Not to mention the whole carbon cycle in the area will be off balance. Another, equally important environmental effect caused by deforestation is the loss of habitat. Trees supply habitat for small critters like squirrels. Without the trees the squirrels will have no habitat and will die off, without squirrels predators such as wolves or coyotes will also die off. Clear-cutting also changes the climate of a particular area. Trees provide shade which keep an area cool, and possibly wet. Without trees, there will be more sun to warm and dry an area, thus affecting smaller plants and shrubs who thrive in cool, wet
ESS Greenwood Furnace Essay
The presentation at Greenwood Furnace State Park was exceptionally informative with topics ranging from the history of the iron industry, to environmental history, and ended explaining the presenter’s research resources, techniques, and problems. As it turns out, the Juniata Iron District left a huge legacy behind that should be celebrated by many. The Juniata Valley became the principle iron-producing district in the United States, producing approximately 50% of the iron in Pennsylvania and 20% of the iron in the United States.
After the Albany Purchase, settlers came to Juniata in the 1750s. In 1767, the first iron ores were discovered. These good quality ores, once praised by Eli Whitney, proved …show more content…
Also, the furnaces covered large areas with soot, affecting water supply and damaging habitats. A larger environmental impact at the time was the clear-cutting of forests in order to run the furnaces. Greenwood furnace clear-cut nearly 300 acres of trees annually. However, because trees were needed for them to stay in business they practiced sustainable yield forestry. A major environmental problem associated with clear-cutting is increased carbon dioxide levels. Trees are a major carbon sink, meaning that they take in more carbon than they release. By cutting them down you are not only preventing from further carbon absorption, you are also releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere. Not to mention the whole carbon cycle in the area will be off balance. Another, equally important environmental effect caused by deforestation is the loss of habitat. Trees supply habitat for small critters like squirrels. Without the trees the squirrels will have no habitat and will die off, without squirrels predators such as wolves or coyotes will also die off. Clear-cutting also changes the climate of a particular area. Trees provide shade which keep an area cool, and possibly wet. Without trees, there will be more sun to warm and dry an area, thus affecting smaller plants and shrubs who thrive in cool, wet