The Ely miner., 1930-01-03

In its original form, the Shipstead-
Newton Bill was again introduced in
Congress by Congressman Nolan and
in the Senate by Senator Shipstead
two weeks ago.
A year ago last swimmer, Senator
Shipstead headed the Senatorial COM
mittee on Agriculture and Forestry
and Congressman Newton, the same
summer, headed the Congressional
Committee, on trip over the affected
territory and first hand information
was secured on the Backus dam pro-
position.
AS the Shipstead- Newton Bill was
introduced to counteract the petition
then, and still pending before the
International Joint Commission for a
series of dams on the border waters
by the Minnesota Ontario Power
Company it was decided by the Com
mittee on Agriculture and Forestry to
recommend its passage but without
amendments as noted which were
adopted as the report of the sub
committee. Congress adjourned before
action was taken on the bill.
The bills introduced by Senator
Shipstead and Congressman Nolan are
identically the same as the Shipstead-
Newton bill with the exception of a
new number. The bills were referred
to the Committee on Public Lands and
Survey and were taken out of the
hands. of the committee which re-
ported their passage. AS this is new
committee on this bill, the findings of
the Agriculture and Forestry COM
mittee, gained by personal observation
in the affected territory, will probably
be valueleSS.
Following is a copy of the Newton
bill. The Shipstead bill is the same
with the exception of omitting the
preamble The bill reads:
A BILL.
To promote the better protection and
highest public use of the lands OF
the United States and adjacent lands
and waters in northern Minnesota
for the production of forest products,
the development and extension Of
recreational uses, the preservation OF
wild life, and other purposes not in
consistent Herewith; and to protect
more effectively the streams and
lakes dedicated to public use under
the terms and spirit of Clause 2 or
the Webster -Ashburton treaty OF
1842 between Great Britain and the
United States; and looking towarc
the joint development of indiSpens-
able international recreational ana
economic assets.
Whereas the fourteen thousand five
hundred square miles covered by
the Rainy Lake watershed, lying in
Ontario and Minnesota, and the
Immediately adjacent lands and
waters constitute the only remaining
vast wilderness area in the central
part of North America; and
Whereas this region contains the only
remaining extensive coniferous for
ests in the Middle West with un-
usual potentialities for the develop
ment of future continuous supply
of forest products; and
Whereas this region is blessed with
precious international historic vai-
ues, rare scenic qualities, and un-
ique recreational facilities within the
reach of one hundred millions Of
residents of both Canada and the
United States; and
Whereas this area affords an unusuai
opportunity to preserve, perpetuate,
restock, and increase various species
of wild life of invaluable economic
and aesthetic Importance to both
nations; and
Whereas within this region two neigh
boring areas with similar public pur-
poses were set aside by the respec-
tive Governments in 1909 and des-