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BAUDETTE HARBOR AND RIVER, MINN.

COMMITTEE ON RIVERS AND HARBORS,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., January 24, 1914. The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Stephen M. Sparkman (chairman) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Steenerson, you may proceed.

STATEMENT OF HON. HALVOR STEENERSON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

Mr. STEENERSON. I appear principally on behalf of the item which I included in the bill (H. R. 10549) for the improvement of the Baudette and Rainy River. The Rainy River, as you know, is the boundary between Minnesota and the British possessions. The Baudette River is situated 12 miles above the mouth of the Rainy River, and empties into the Lake of the Woods, and it is at the crossing of the Canadian Northern Railway; and out at this point is a bridge across the Rainy River, which is about a thousand feet in width there. It is a very important river-bigger than the Mississippi at St. Paul.

The CHAIRMAN. Is there any project for the improvement of the river at the point near town?

Mr. STEENERSON. Oh, yes. I have the Secretary of War's report here.

The CHAIRMAN. It is a new report, I remember now.

Mr. STEENERSON. Yes; a brand-new report, 1913, and it recommends the expenditure of $2,750 for this turning basin on the Baudette River, which is a tributary which goes into the Rainy River. There are two tributaries, the Rapid River and Baudette, and the commerce is quite important. It is not only international but interstate and State. The boats from all this section come up the Rainy River from Lake of the Woods.

Mr. BURGESS. What is the number of that report?

Mr. STEENERSON. The report is House Document No. 109, Sixtythird Congress first session, Baudette Harbor and River, letter from the Secretary of War with a letter from the Chief of Engineers, reports of the examinations and surveys of the local harbor and river. They recommend this improvement, and a reference to the report will show the details of it. It is only a simple matter.

The CHAIRMAN. I do not think, Mr. Steenerson, you need go into detail at all, because we will read the report. All we want to do is

to get your views.

Mr. STEENERSON. I only want to impress upon the committee this very important point: As you see, it is on the boundary between

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the United States and Canada. The Rainy River is a very large river, and this improvement is right alongside of the work on the Baudette River, which flows into the Rainy.

The CHAIRMAN. I have looked at the map, and somehow or other I get the impression it is not a very urgent improvement.

Mr. STEENERSON. Well, I certainly think it is. This report on the Rainy River-here is the Rainy River here [indicating]; it is a river that is 20 feet deep, with a thousand feet width. This is a tributary [indicating], and here is where these large sawmills and docks are located [indicating], and the details, as I say, are in the report. The chamber of commerce and the commercial club of both the villages of Spooner and Baudette have telegraphed me and requested me to impress upon the committee the importance of it.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Steenerson, I find I made a mistake. It was another matter I was thinking of. I find I have already gone over this and made some notes on it. I find from looking at my notes that I was mistaken a moment ago.

Mr. STEENERSON. I have been at this point, and can testify as to the importance of this improvement.

The CHAIRMAN. You think it ought to be done?

Mr. STEENERSON. Oh, certainly. There are two very large sawmills there, and they have a large fisheries interest and ship carloads of fish, and navigation up that river is very important, clear up as far as Francis.

The CHAIRMAN. What kind of fish?

Mr. STEENERSON. Mostly white fish, some pike and some sturgeon. The celebrated Lake of the Woods caviar is the most valuable in the world. It beats the Russian.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Steenerson, if we come to the point of taking on new projects in this bill, we will carefully consider this matter. At the present time I can not see any objection to it myself. I do not mind saying that.

Mr. STEENERSON. I want to say I think it is very meritorious, very necessary work, because the boats have to turn there and there are no other facilities for it. I thank you very much.

HEARINGS

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON RIVERS AND HARBORS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON THE SUBJECT OF THE

IMPROVEMENT OF BEVERLY HARBOR, MASS.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLANS SUBMITTED
IN HOUSE DOCUMENT 220, SIXTY-THIRD
CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

DECEMBER 12, 1913

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

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