The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-09-18
BACKUS VERSION
ON DAM SITES,
SUBJECT DISCUSSED BY MR.
BACKUS IN LETTER TO
STATE OFFICIAL.

Notwithstanding the fact that we
are of the opinion that the move
ment to build a series of IL dams
on the border waters north of Ely is
one of the most gigantic schemes to
tie up the development of this par
ticular section to the benefit of in
terests not as yet in the lime-light,
and to the utter devastation of the
larger part of the Arrowhead Coun-
try, we herewith publish the letter
of E. w. Backus to Jas. f. Gould
of the State Department of Conser-
walton.
By reading the letter carefully it
will be inferred that the scheme is
one of industrial expansion, but in
looking over the application filed
with the international Commission
for a permit to construct these dams
it will be noted that no industrial
expansion is contemplated and also
according to the statements of men
prominent in the business affairs of
international Falls, Fort Francis,
Rainier, Kettle Falls and other
affected cities on the border, none
are needed. According to state
ments made, the dams and power
plants now at these points are cap
able of furnishing all the power
needed for present industrial plants
and as many more new ones.
These same people figure that the
industries for which power is need
ed and for which material can be
furnished in that section will be out
of business in very few years and
that dam development will retard
the agricultural development. for
estry development, mineral develop
ment, summer home and tourist de-
velopment and every other develop
ment which will be needed to keep
that section on the map. The Ket-
tie Falls dam has demonstrated the
devastation that follows the build
ing of dams. Water has been back
ed over thousands of acres of tim
Der lands and the growth destroyed /;
prosperous farms have been mum
dated and the farm and settler ruin
ed; islands containing summer
homes are now worthless and even
in that small area incalculable and
irreparable damage has resulted in
asmuch as the entire section has
been devastated.
The building of the II dams as
stated in the application would
mean the flooding of the entire area
from Ely to the Rainy Lake basin
with the consequent ruination of the
Superior National Forest and it's
recreational value, completely anihil-
ating the tourist proposition, the
fish and game and the timber pos
sibilities. Columns could be writ
ten on the subject but we will let
Mr. Backus state his views in the
following letter. He says:
COPY.
Minnesota and Ontario Paper Com
pany.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Aug. 20, 1925.
Mr.. James F. Gould, Commissioner,
Game and Fish Department,
State Capitol, st. Paul. Mimi.
Dear Sir: Replying to yours of
the 14th, will say:
"My Recommendation to the In
ternational Joint Commission at its
meeting scheduled for September
18th, at International Falls, will be
to construct reservoir dams at the
outlet or outlets of the following
lakes: Lac La Croix, Iron, Crooked
Eastwood, Birch, Knife, Saganaga,
on the International boundary above
the Namakan chain of lakes. AT
three or four of these points it will
be feasible and commercially prac.
ticable to construct hydro-electrie
power plants in connection with
these reservoir dams.
''In the past it has been either q
feast orr famine. At times we