File:Elementary physical geography; (1908) (14784218242).jpg

Identifier: elementaryphysic01redw (find matches)
Title: Elementary physical geography;
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Redway, Jacques Wardlaw, 1849- (from old catalog)
Subjects: Physical geography
Publisher: New York, C. Scribner's sons
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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Adjustment of Industrial Pursuits to Environ-ment.—In the growth and development of a nation twoprocesses usually are going on—the acquisition of territoryand the adjustment of the pursuits of a people to the condi-tions of their geographic surroundings. The latter is usu-ally attended with more or less friction, and the frictionis a very large factor in their history. In the geographic distribution of the industries of theUnited States, one may follow the processes of adjustment.The New England Plateau, with its abundant water-power—helped also by steam-power—furnishes the country withlight manufactures and textiles and exports the balance.The people of the harbor region carry on the foreign com-merce and largely control the great railway systemsthat transport the manufacturers products and thefood-stuffs. The people of the Appalachian region manage the distri-bution of the coal and supply the country with steel rails,bridge material, building girders, and power-producing ma-
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370 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY chinery. From the prairies of the Great Central Plaincome the breadstuffs and meat, and from the AtlanticCoast Plain the fruit and vegetables required for the labor-ers in the crowded manufacturing centres. From the southconies the cotton and from the west the wool that is toclothe eighty millions of people. From the Western High-lands are obtained the gold and silver, the medium of com-mercial exchange, and much of the copper the medium bywhich electric-power is transmitted. Each section sup-plies not only the rest of the United States, but a largeforeign trade as well. Natural Resources.—No other nation, China excepted,possesses such a great wealth of resources. Sonic of thesewill still last for years, but others are nearly exhausted.The bison and the fur-seal are practically extinct, the formerbeing in part replaced by cattle that certainly are of greatervalue. The most valuable forest trees of the country are thepines. Of these, a belt of white pine extend

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