The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1932-03-25
,pv our Special COrrespOndent)

l.
: story Of almost unbelievable
n,hI;c betrayal by the county OF
EriaIs from first to last, the al =
last total wreck of once proud
county regal in its robes of green :
living from the lofty boughs of
~ mighty forests Of virgin pine :
and other valuable timber that
OCIv a few years ago covered in
~ubroken mass the length and
breadth of this now most unhappy
county; the total exploitation of
this empire of wealth by a ruth
lass corporation, the name of
which can be condensed into one
word, BackHs; a stopped and lad
an populace bending under a tax
rate Of 1T mills, the highest rate
0f any county in the state, which
rate is due to debts, arising out
at extravaganza, contracted by a
traitorous horde of county Off
Gals during the years the timber
was here and taxable and debts
iuexcusable, thus trading off the
UeOuIe's future birthright for
present mess of pottage-a salary
for themselves, a job with the
Company, their names on the pay
roll. directly or indirectly.
Its Settlement and Organization
The present territory of Koochi-
ching county was originally the
northern half of Itasca county !
whose county seat was at Grand
Rapids at the southern end of the
county. On Rainy river, the nor
them boundary of Itasca county
at that time, at the present site
Of International Falls, was the
wonderful water falls known as
KOochiching Falls, where the
waters Of Rainy river plunged ov-
er a rocky ridge down thirty-four
feet.
E. w Baclus of the Backus-
Brooks Company of Minneapolis,
having full knowledge of the won
derful supply of spruce pulp tim
Der adjacent to this falls on both
aides Of the boundary line, coveted
this water power, and of course
he got it.
At about this time, 1925, peo-
pie from the southern part Of the
state, Wisconsin, Dakota and 9TH
er places, poured into this north
land by the hundreds and took up
hCmesteads, This continued until
there was a considerable popula-
tlOn in this north end of the then
Itasca county. Mr.. Backus built
his dam at Koochiching falls and
constructed his pulp and paper
plant which was organized as the
Minnesota & Ontario Power Co.
The only point at which Mr.
Backus' interests came in contact
with the county government was
his tax obligations. This accounts
Tor the interest the Company al
ways took and is still taking IL
the election of county officials, es
pecially the commissioners, audi
tor and county attorney.
Mr.. Backus found it inconveni
ent and difficult to control tn,
election of county officials witt
the county seat and large par
OF the population away at tn
southern end Of the county aroun'
Grand Rapids. He must have
bailiwick of his own with the coun
" seat close up within the shadov
Of the throne. So the move 70
county division was launched, wit
every possible and conceivabl
reason given for its desirabilit
except the real one. The real on,
Of course, was never advanced.
To accomplish this divisic
would require more or less of
campaign. Hence, it was neceI
sary for the Company to get SON
nenchman qualified to take chars
OF this work and put it over fro
the creating of sentiment in fav,
OI the division, the arranging !
ene five commissioners distric
and the selection of the men
represent them as commissions
and the selection of the men (
the other county offices, on dov
J" the last details and the launc
ing Of the new county governme
N full operation. This arrang
ment would permit the Compal
J" stand quietly by, apparent
4nng no interest in the matter
Inc man for this Job, from
information l have gathered frc
.ne residents here, was found
pPieVoh IN the person OF q la
yer whose naturally pompous ms
.er and dignified bearing boget
with deep, well modulai
voice prone to carry convicti
was no small part of his ecu
ent' He was brought into
county and put on tbe ioh he -
name s ;. being placed on the petit
ney. w County az
= Is scarcely necessary to
mat the plan was put over "
ueaness and dispatch. What I
man received for his part in .
Nng It over Is not definis