The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-10-02
COMMISSION
LISTENS TO DAM PROPOSALS
CONTINUED from First Page

tOOHtlHutu lIOui hot dSSy
Backus read into the records thir-
teen-page statement explaining the
project of the power company and
declaring it would be detriment to
no one. He preceded the reading
of it with some remarks in which he
said he had been considerably en-
tertained the past few months by
learning through the newspapers
what a dire calamity the carrying
out of the project was going to in
fiict on lot of people"
"We are willing to proceed with
out any fear that anything we pro
pose to do could infiict damage on
anyone" he said with smile. He
went on to refer to the columns Of
newspaper space that have been de
voted to the matter, having in his
hand file of sheets on which news
paper clippings were pasted. He
read from the lot the complete text
of an editorial in The Duluth Herald
of Aug. 13, headed "Backus or
Beauty, and declared that this
amused him more than anything.
''It is strange that with all this
propaganda going around, and all
these claims of the damage that will
be done by the carrying out of the
project, not soul has come to me
for information on just what we in
tend to do" Mr.. Backus said. Sex
cept on last Friday a friend in Min
neapolis asked me to what extent
the project would affect Eastwood
lake."
He then began the reading of the
statement which he had prepared,
and which reviewed the entire pro-
ject, giving figures on the volume
of water storage, acreage that would
be affected by flowage on the vari-
Gus lakes on both the American and
Canadian sides, costs and other
technical data. His statement show
ed that a total of 37,079 acres
would be. flooded by carrying out the
project, comprising 14,O60 acres in
United States. This fl owage fol
lows: Rainy lake, 1,444 acres in
Canada and 1913 acres in United
States; Namakan lake, 1911 acres
in Canada and 4,471 acres in United
States: Lac La Croix, $3.50 acres
in Canada and $500 acres in United
States; Crooked lake, 1856 acres in
Canada and 1855 acres in United
States; Saganaga lake, $500 acres
in Canada and 1850 in United
States. There would be no fiowage
on Eastwood lake, he declared.
''Not a Detriment."
Mr.. Backus reviewed the negotia-
tions for the carrying out of the
project, and declared that "we pro-
crossed fairly well until this propa.
ganda got started. We know it Will
not be a detriment to anyone, but
benefit to everyone. Power would
be taken down to the iron range
from the project, and the sooner it
is done the sooner the people OF
Northern Minnesota will realize they
have been sleeping. We hope that
the commission will grant our appli-
cation, and that Northern Mime
sofa will be built up by this project
"And as for these claims that il
would ruin the most beautiful canoe
ing country in the world, why, bless
my soul, have had friends tell me
all about that, all about the long
portages they have had to make be-
cause of water level conditions in
some of the lakes and streams. II
this project was carried out there
would be nothing to do but carry
canoes around dams and put them
back in the water again. It would
improve the canoe country that the
recreationists are bowling about, in.
stead of damaging it. 1t is to the
interest of both the United States
and Canada to develop this immense
power project"
In reply to question at the close
of his talk, he said that the project
would be capable of developing from
$4,000 to 10000 horsepower.
Wednesday morning many more
witnesses appeared against the pro.
posal and the hearing was conclud.
ed Wednesday. Tuesday evening
the Canadian National Railways, the
Manitoba Provincial government
and the City of Winnipeg had their
innings.
Testimony was presented by oper-
ating officials of the railway to show
that raising the lake levels would
flood a large section of the railroad
property and result in much dam
age: The opposition of the Mani
toba government and the city of
Winnipeg was conferred on the seri-
Gus effect the Backus plan would
have on the power developments in
that province.
Would Cost Million.
The raising of the levels OF Rainy
and other boundary lakes would
cost the Canadian National railways
almost 100000 600, if not more, off,
Gals of the line told the commits
sion after spending almost three
hours on the stand. w. T. Noodle,
division superintendent at Port
Arthur, during an hours question
ing by George Wilkie, general coun-
sci of the line, E. w. Backus and
members of the commission, brought
out that the cost of raising the
roads tracks and bridges for a dis
lance of approximately twenty-four
miles along Rainy lake would cost
1926, ago. He also brought out
that this would not include any dam.
age for loss of business due to sus-
pension of traffic while the altera-
tions were being carried out, and
that the matter of raising the
bridges of the line in the Rainy lake
district had not been considered SO
far as costs were concerned by the
officials, and that this would be a
very difficult matter.
Other witnesses Wednesday morn
srnn. x.rn.o LII. VIZ /,