The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-10-02
be untenantable and unstable If the
shore lines were ruined.

In reply to questions of the com
1 mission, Mr.. Comet declared hi
would not personally be opposed Il
raising the levels if all of the tim
Der were cut short and cleaned VI
before putting the project through
but would be opposed to low place.
becoming laden with dead timbel
that would be a fire hazard.
The hearing adjourned after Mr.
Comets testimony at 10:15 p. m
until $50 a. m. Tuesday.
Baekus Kept Busy.
Mr.. Backus was on his feet wiz.
tually the whole of the afternoon
session Monday, answering question:
asked by the different attorneys and
other groups represented. In re.
Spouse to a question by Mr.. Nc.
Learn as TO whether or not Lac Ls
Croix was not regarded as one OF
the most beautiful lakes in NORTH
| America, Mr.. Backus answered:
Its a beautiful lake, all right
but what good does that do if only
95 or 100 people see it every year!
Raise the lake level and you still
have beautiful shore lines"
An attempt by the commission to
have some definite information pre-
scented as to the damage that would
result from the carrying out of the
project met with arguments on the
part of the opponents that they
could not present definite evidence
until they knew exactly what the
Backus interests intended to do, and
what damage would result.
During this discussion the follow
ing made short talks or asked Mr..
Backus questions: A. j. Murray,
Fort Frances, representing land
owners in the district; C. f. Elm-
quist, Minneapolis attorney, repre-
senting several large lumber inter
ests opposed to the project; F. A.
Dunsmore, Minneapolis. represent
ing land owners; r d. Guy. Mani
toba Power company. Winnipeg
State Representative G. Fl. Lommen.
Biwabik. and members of the CON-
mission.
George Wilkie, general counsel of
the Canadian National Railways,
asked Mr.. Backus a number of tech
nical questions as to proposed water
levels, to some of which he did not
obtain satisfactory answers, it ap-
peared.
Power for Range Industries.
In reply to some information
given by Mr.. Backus that industries
on the iron range are in need of
power, Mr.. Elmquest asked to just
what industries he referred. He re-
piled that fully 50,00O-horse power
"could be sold on the range tomor-
row." but did not name any specific
industries.
That's merely a surmise, isn't
it," Mr.. Elmquist asked
mo, it's not" Mr.. Backus an
swered sharply, and someone else
took up the task of questioning him.
The crowd got laugh when L.
w. Wilson. representing the village
of Aurora and town of White, st.
Louis county, and land owner on
the shores of Rainy and Kabetogam-
mea lake, testified.
Its quite while ago since You
and / steamboated together, Mr..
Backus," he said in opening his re-
marks, land this is not one of your
trading points, is it," he asked.
While not brought out at the
hearing, it appears that Wilson and
his family at one time operated a
ferry across the river at Interna-
tional Falls, and the activities of the
Backus interests resulted in the
ferry going out of business. The
ha &oxw~, h,,r a-1 An
rough life, and at the solicitation
of q group of friends took up the
study of law, and appears in every
case possible where there is an op-
portunity Of opposing the Backus
interests.
Mr.. Backus, in reply to Wilson'S
questions as to whether it would
be possible TO maintain the new
levels at a certain figure. charged
Wilson with 1theorizing" and de-
clared that this is not getting any
where. Impractical questions" he
said.
Communion In the Dark
Following short testimony of Mr..
Guy and Mr.. Lommen, during which
| they asked Mr.. Backus a number OF
technical questions, Chairman Clark
| interviewed with several questions to
Mr.. Backus as TO how he thought
the commission was going TO deter
mine the practicability of the pro-
ject without any definite informa.
ton as to just what the results to
adjacent properties would be.
eve are virtually working in the
dark" Mr.. Clark said. "Who dc
you think is going to furnish US
with the information we need to de-
eide the matter?"
A discussion ensued between
members Of the commission and Mr..
Backus as to the proposal Of the
government paying so per cent OF
the engineering costs in connection
with the project, which has been
proposed. Commissioner McCum.
Der Joined IN the argument as to
how the commission was to accur.
ately consider the matter without
some definite information, and de.
clared that complete plans should be
presented before the commission
could decide 1t. Mr.. Backus made
no direct response to these remarks
except to declare that his companies
had spent $4,000 already In en-.
cheering the work, and that Il
would be folly to spend more unles.
the commission indicated that the
project was looked upon with some
1 favor.
Members of the commission made
it plain that the body was charged
with the task of making a report OF
the questions submitted to it by thu
secretary of state, which make NJ
direct reference to the project IN
question.