The following historical statement was prepared by Colonel Landers for the committee: DISCOVERY OF FLORIDA BY PONCE DE LEON History has not answered the question as to who first explored the Atlantic coast line of North America. The Cabots possibly ran down the coast as far as Florida in 1497. A claim of somewhat doubtful merit was made by Americus Vespucius that in 1498 he skirted the coast line of Florida. It is quite probable that several venturesome sailors continued beyond the islands of the West Indies, some of which were discovered by Columbus in 1492, and during the next two decades skirted the coast of the mainland. None of these voyages, however, detract from the achievements of Juan Ponce de Leon, the first man known to have landed in that portion of the United States known as Florida. Ponce de Leon had accompanied Columbus on his second voyage to America and decided to cast his fortune in the new empire of Spain. Stories of an island north of Hispaniola, whose waters conferred perpetual youth, were commonly discussed in new and old Spain, and this fabled island, supposedly Bimini, became Ponce de Leon's goal. On the 23d of February, 1512, a royal grant empowered Juan Ponce de Leon "to proceed to discover and settle the island of Bimini," the patent being subject to the condition that the island had not been already discovered. If he succeeded in his expedition, he was to be governor of Bimini for life, with the title of adelantado. While he was preparing for the voyage, the king found that it was necessary to give Ponce de Leon command of the fort previously established in Porto Rico, for the purpose of quieting and controlling the Indians of that island. At last he set sail from the Fort of San German in March, 1513, with three caravels, and steered northward into the Bahamas. After refitting at Guanahani, he sailed northwest and on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1513, saw an island, which was unknown to him. On the 2d of April he found himself in 9 fathoms of water at a distance of 1 league from the mainland. His latitude at this time is given as 30° and 8'. He continued thence down the coast line, seeking a harbor, and at night dropped anchor near the land in 8 fathoms of water. A landing was made and Ponce de Leon took possession in the name of the King of Spain, and called the country-which the Lucayos referred to as Caucio-Florida, from Pascua Florida, the Spanish name for Easter Sunday. SENATE 72D CONGRESS 1st Session } { REPORT No. 316 BRIDGE ACROSS RAINY RIVER, AT OR NEAR FEBRUARY 24, 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. VandenberG, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 5064] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5064) authorizing Vernon W. O'Connor, of St. Paul, Minn., his heirs, legal representatives, and assigns to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Rainy River at or near Baudette, Minn., having considered the same, report favorably thereon, and recommend that the bill do pass with the following amendment: On page 2, after line 20, add another paragraph reading as follows: The said Vernon W. O'Connor, his successors or assigns, shall within ninety days after the completion of the bridge constructed under the authority of this act file with the Secretary of War an itemized statement under oath showing the actual original cost of such bridge and its approaches and appurtenances, which statement shall include any expenditures actually made for engineering and legal services; and any fees, discounts, and other expenditures actually incurred in connection with the financing thereof. Such itemized statement of cost shall be investigated by the Secretary of War at any time within three years after the completion of such bridge, and for that purpose the said Vernon W. O'Connor, his successors or assigns, in such manner as may be deemed proper, shall make available and accessible all records connected with the construction and financing of such bridge, and the findings of the Secretary of War as to the actual cost of such bridge shall be made a part of the records of the War Department. The bill has the approval of the Departments of War and State, as will appear by the annexed House of Representatives Report No. 56, which is made a part of this report. The bill does not have the approval of the Department of Agriculture. The department's opposition is based upon highly persuasive grounds. But in the present instance the Committee on Commerce finds sound reason for believing that the department's opposition is met by subsequent exhibits which the committee has obtained. These exhibits are annexed and made a part of this report as follows: (1) Favorable recommendation of the Minnesota Department of Highways; (2) letter from Vernon W. O'Connor, giving assurances that this project will not be financed by the public sale of securities, and further assurances that construction will start as soon as the congressional grant is concluded. [House Report No. 56, Seventy-second Congress, first session] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5064) authorizing Vernon W. O'Connor, of St. Paul, Minn., his successors and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Rainy River, at or near Baudette, Minn., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Page 1, line 6, after the word "his", strike out the word "successors" and insert the words "heirs, legal representatives," in lieu thereof. Page 2, line 9, after the word "his", strike out the word "successors" and insert the words "heirs, legal representatives," in lieu thereof. Page 2, lines 21 and 22, after the word "his"; strike out the word "successors" and insert the words "heirs, legal representatives," in lieu thereof. Line 24, after the word "of" strike out the word "Canada" and insert the word "Minnesota" in lieu thereof. Page 3, lines 5 and 6, after the word "his", strike out the word "successors" and insert the words "heirs, legal representatives," in lieu thereof. Amend to title so as to read: "Authorizing Vernon W. O'Connor, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, his heirs, legal representatives, and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Rainy River at or near Baudette, Minnesota." Hon. Harold Knutson, who introduced this bill, has submitted the following information with reference thereto: Mr. ELTON J. LAYTON, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., December 23, 1931. Clerk Committee Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SIR: Replying to your communication of December 22, with reference to the bill (H. R. 5064) introduced by me authorizing Vernon W. O'Connor of St. Paul to construct and operate a bridge across the Rainy River at or near Baudette, Minn., it is desired to submit the following information: There is a ferry now being operated at the location of the bridge which it is proposed to construct between Baudette, Minn., and Rainy River, Ontario, Canada, upon which tolls are collected for crossing the Rainy Řiver. The people on both sides of Rainy River are practically unanimous for the construction of a bridge at this point. None of the various political subdivisions affected are in condition to finance or construct a free bridge in this locality, and there is no probability of their being able to do so in the near future. A bridge at this point is an urgent necessity and the individual to whom authority is to be granted to construct such a bridge is in every way financially responsible. Yours very truly, HAROLD KNUTSON. The bill has the approval of the War and State Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. WAR DEPARTMENT, December 23, 1931. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the accompanying bill (H. R. 5064, 72d Cong., 1st sess.) authorizing Vernon W. O'Connor, of St. Paul, Minn., his successors and assigns, to construct a bridge across the Rainy River at or near Baudette, Minn. PATRICK J. HURLEY, Hon. SAM RAYBURN, House of Representatives. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 24, 1931. SIR: In reply to your letter of December 14, 1931, inclosing bill H. R. 5064, Seventy-second Congress, first session, with the request for a report thereon in duplicate, you are advised that, in so far as the interests entrusted to this department are concerned, there is no objection to the proposed legislation. Very truly yours, Hon. SAM RAYBURN, H. L. STIMSON. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. RAYBURN: Careful consideration has been given to the bill H. R. 5064, transmitted with your letter of December 16, with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize Vernon W. O'Connor of St. Paul, Minn., his successors and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Rainy River, at or near Baudette, Minn., subject to the approval of the proper authorities in Canada. The bill would give Mr. O'Connor, his successors and assigns, full authority to sell, assign, transfer, and mortgage all rights, powers, and privileges which it would confer. The proposed bridge would be across the international boundary line at a point at which a route on the system of Federal-aid highways approved for Minnesota terminates. The department calls attention to the policy involved in this measure. The bill contains no provision safeguarding the interests of the public as to the period of operation as a private toll bridge or fixing any period after which it may be acquired by public agencies of the United States and Canada, acting jointly or severally, with a view to making it free to the traveling public. While the bill provides for an international bridge, this is a franchise in perpetuity so far as the United States is concerned. It contains no safeguard to the public as to rates of tolls which may be charged. No provision is made for the application of the proceeds of such tolls to make the bridge free at any future time, nor is there any provision for the acquisition by the public of the bridge with stipulations to guard or define the price which might be charged if the public decided to acquire the bridge. This authorization conveys the right of eminent domain, and while there is no thought of questioning the right of the Congress to grant authority for the building of an international bridge, the duty to construct and maintain connecting highways must fall upon the State of Minnesota. The right of assignment contained in this authorization gives the holder thereof a basis upon which to issue securities. There is no market at the present time for toll-bridge bonds among the investing public, so, in the judgment of the department, there is no possibility of early construction of the proposed bridge. Our attention has been called to a measure providing for the investigation of this whole subject of the issuance of authorizations for private toll bridges by a committee of the Congress. The department favors this investigation so that the unwholesome record of the past several years, in which many investors in toll-bridge bonds have lost large sums, will be authentically brought to the attention of the public. The department is cognizant of these conditions and is opposed to the issuance of authorizations which have become the basis for promotional enterprises, unsound in their inception and extravagent in their execution. The department recommends against this measure. Sincerely yours, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. Hon. HENRIK SHIPSTEAD, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. VERNON W. O'CONNOR, DEAR SENATOR: Confirming our verbal conversation of to-day relative to the construction of the bridge at Baudette, Minn., over the Rainy River, I wish to say that it is not my intention to issue any bonds for the construction of this bridge. The money will be derived from private sources. I have my plans sufficiently completed at this time to enable me to commence construction of this bridge as soon as I have the approval of Congress. Yours sincerely, VERNON W. O'CONNOR. STATE OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS, Hon. HENRIK SHIPSTEAD, Washington, D. C. St. Paul, Minn., January 19, 1932. Re H. R. 5064, bill for the Baudette Bridge. DEAR SENATOR: I am in receipt of advice that the bill authorizing construction and operation of a bridge over the Rainy River between Baudette and Rainy River has been approved by the House and is now before the Senate committee for action. When this bill was presented to the House committee I wrote to Hon. Harold Knutson in regard to it, but thought it advisable to delay writing you until such time as the measure was submitted to the Senate. I understand that the bill will authorize Vernon W. O'Connor of this city to construct a toll bridge at the location above referred to, and the purpose of this letter is to advise you that this department would be well satisfied with this arrangement. I have been in quite close contact with this situation for some considerable time and know it to be a fact that the local people, both in Minnesota and Canada, could not undertake the construction of this bridge even though it is so urgently needed. I believe this project to be worthy of your careful consideration, and I am sure that after looking into it thoroughly you will find that a structure at this point will be of considerable assistance to the people of Baudette and the adjoining territory. With kindest personal regards and best wishes. Yours very truly, |