The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-10-02
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION
LISTENS To DAM PROPOSALS,
Only Superficial Projects Presented By E. w.
Backus...Commissio Stated They Were
Very Much in the Dark-.Adjourned Wed.
nesday to Await Report of International
Engineers.

beautiful country" during a year,
cited figures of only one Ely
canoe outftter, which showed that
during the past season this one
agency accommodated 700 canoe
parties, as compared to in a similar
period five years ago.
In extending the invitation to WIS.,
it the boundary lake country to the
members of the joint commission,
Mr.. McLearn stated that they only
could realize by frst-hand investiga-
ton the great beauty of the country
which our witnesses have been try
ing to describe"
Would Cause Big Damage.
State Senator w. d. Washburn of
Minneapolis explained the system
under which state-owned lake shore
plots are leased to citizens, and de-
clared fiowage would cause much
damage to these sites. Other wit
nesses were John Handberg, a for
mer Federal forest ranger, and w.
G. Randolph, a summer resort pro-
prietor, both of Crane Lake, who
said much beautiful country would
be flooded, in some cases over high
tree tops.
Mr.. Backus asked the witnesses
several questions, particularly as to
the number of residents on or near
the shores of Lac. La Croix, and
whether it would not be just as easy
for canoeist to portage around a
dam as a rapids.
81 would just as soon bump up
against few rapids as one of youl
DAMS" Mr.. Handberg said in reply
to q question.
The water would cover the tops
of the highest pine trees, Mr.. Ran
dolph said, in answering q question
by Mr.. McLearn as to what effect
the construction of an eightytwo
foot dam on Loon river would have.
He also declared it would result in
the flooding of the islands and much
lakeshore, making the waters dan
gerous from navigation standpoint
because of the trees which would be
inundated.
Col. A F. Pratt of the state at
torney generals Office called Grover
M. Comet, state forester, to the
stand. In reply to questions, Mr.
Comet said that probably fifty
miles of state-owned lakeshore lands
would be affected by the fiowage of
the Backus project and that in some
instances on Lac La Croi~ the pro-
posed raising of the level seventeen
feet would cause lands to be food
ed as far as a mile back from the
present shore.
Would Take Many Years.
In response to questions by Com
missioner Charles A. Magrath of
Ottawa as to whether present sandy
beach and other favorable shore
conditions could be perpetuated on
Lac La Croix, Mr.. Comet declared
it would take a number of years,
perhaps several hundred to restore
present conditions.
well, we're talking about this
and the next generation" Mr.
Backus interposed, and there was
laughter which caused Chairman
Clark TO rap for order
Mr.. Comet agreed with settlers
who testified during the evening and
with Mr.. Backus, that the timber
along the lake shores was generally
worth more from standpoint of
scenic value than as merchantable
timber. Witnesses brought out that
some lake shore lands were selling
as high as $40 an acre with oak
and elm and other trees on them,
and declared that these lands would