The Paper Mill Plan
"Edward Backus was a man who wanted to use the economic value of the BWCA by building a paper mill. In 1925, Backus proposed a plan to build seven dams in the Rainy Lake River Basin, with the intention of furnishing additional power for his paper mills and turning timber into paper."- James Gladden
Backus’ plan would have raised water levels high enough to flood all shores and islands and ruin much of the timber in the area, if not for the efforts of Ernest Oberholtzer and the political battle he fought to stop Backus. After five years, the public agreed with Oberholtzer and in 1930, "Backus’ plan was lost along with his logging empire."
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