The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-17
Minneapolis Men Secure the Cana
dian Rights at the Koochioh-
ing Falls.
E.W. Backus and His Associates Will
Immediately Begin to Develop
Important Industries
Big Supplies Of Pulp Wood Are Near
and Canadian Wheat Is
Available.

Minneapolis capital has at last secured
control of the valuable water power OF
the Rainy river at Koochiching and Fort
Francis, Ontario. =. The >Koochiching COM
pany, made W largely .of Minneapolls
Koochiching on the American 3sades and
yesterday the Ontario provincial cabinet
granted certain concessions as to the
Canadian rights, which removes all OBJ
stacles to the early establishment OF In
dustries at this point, and the rapid In
crease in Importance Of both Koochiching
and Fort Francis. The Koochiching COM
pany contemplates building plants to be
operated by itself In the use Of the water
power, and will also sell power. Engin-
eer1ng work may begin this winter. IN
the early spring the falls will be harnessed
and active development of the towns Will
begin.
Progress has been delayed for some
time In obtaining government conces-
sions before possession of the Canadian
| falls could be gained.
| Yesterday the Ontario cabinet held
lengthy meeting at Ottawa to- consider
the question Of the international water
power It is absolutely necessary that
the consent Of the governments OF Onta-
rio and Minnesota be secured tor de-
velopment Of this power, since reservoirs
must be located on the Canadian side.
The promoter of the enterprise, r.. w.
Backus Of Minneapolis, came before the
cabinet and made a large offer to pur-
chase the Canadian rights outright. This
was, however, refused, because It was held
that the possibility of further development
should be protected.
Messrs. Mackenzie and Mann, through
| their representative, A. II. Royce or To-
ronto, put in an application for rights on
the Canadian side Of the river for the
purpose Of protecting their own interests
| ~ Ito l..
way, which will be largely benefited by
development at Fort Francis. It was
made clear that Mackenzie and Mann
were willing to relinquish their application
If the interests Of the Canadians were
preserved.
Senator James McMullen. a prospective
investor in the enterprise, appealed to tne
cabinet not to fix rates and rentals that
would make investment of capital IN the
concern impossible. James Conmee, M.
P. p of Port Arthur. within whose diVi-
sion the territory lies, also spoke, urging
that the possibilities of development on
the Canadian side should be considered.
The cabinet, after much dehberation, de-
cided to grant the Backus application on
} condition that one-half the power gen
Grated be reserved absolutely for Cana
dian use AS the total estimated capacity
of the water power Is 5000 horse power,
this gives 1000 horse power to Canada
:.
municipal purposes In the town OF For'
Francis and the remainder Of 5000 horse
power for manufacturing purposes. The
company is to pay $4,000 annual rental tc
; the province Of Ontario, and rates are tc
be subject to government ajjroval.
The water rights OF the Minneapolis
). company on the Rainy river are consid-
cred very valuable. On the American side
of the island lying in the middle of the
} river no Improvement has been made. The
} water flows over a. rocky cascade. The
} TOP ledge may be easily removed to the
solid rock, which will form base for the
power dam.
; On the Canadian side during the Rie
rebellion General Wolsey's men began thu
, making Of locks. No dam was put IN
l but the lock was cut out Of the sole
; granite and over this sheer wall the wate1
> falls.
Nature has endowed the region abou
Fort Francis and Koochiching with ricl
ADVANTAGES The woods on either SID
Of the river afford supplies Of pulp woot
: for a long time to come. This insure
' tho establishment Of paper mills.
The Canadian Northern will bring iron
the rich wheat fields in Canada all th
grain that can be ground by the availabl
water power.