Town Conquers Economic Defeat, 1980

The McFadden Lumber Era Ended In 1971 With the Chimney's Demolition

Town Conquers Economic Defeat

BY Gladys Hornby Special To The Star Fifth in a series

BLIND RIVER -

Former Mayor Ontario (Red) Venturi, was at the helm of the financially floundering ship. Blind River, when the McFadden (Domtar) operation closed in 1969.

Mr. Venturi, took over as chief magistrate in mid 1968, and to the termination of office Dec. 31, 1976, along with council, refused to bow to economical defeat, but continued the battle to obtain life-supporting industry that the town might survive.

Speaking of the mill shutdown, Mr. Venturi referred to the resulting upheaval as "a real kick in the community's teeth."

"It not only threw about 700 men out of work, but the municipality suffered an annual loss of approximately $100,000 in much needed tax money, and that kind of industrial employment and revenue is mighty hard to replace," he stressed.

In reference to that which might be termed almost a three-quarter century of mining the area forests of its prime white pine Mr. Venturi said:

"Since the very beginning, I think all the lumbering companies, not just Domtar, cut what they knew as the real moneymaker, the white pine. Unfortunately over the years billions of pulp slashed in the cutting process was left and allowed to rot on the ground.

"Sooner or later, this could only mean the depletion of the forests, and I am certain that Domtar foresaw this, in fact knew years before, that the mill closure was inevitable," he stated.

Therefore, the white pine cut was becoming farther and farther . away as the years passed, making it a costly business, and for the mill itself located in Blind River, the operation reached a stage where it was no longer economically feasible to continue, said Mr. Venturi.

"However, I do believe," continued the former mayor, "that Domtar's original plan to build a pulp mill here was sincere, but Quebec offered them greater incentives than Ontario, also a larger supply of better grade pulp. So, naturally the mill went to that province," he said.

What of the future of our local forests insofar as they pertain to industrial use? "I would think that recutting would be possible on a lifelong basis eventually, providing the annual harvest is kept within a provincial maximum tonnage only," commented Mr. Venturi.

"How do I, personally, feel about Blind River's future although we may have had more than our fair share of ups-and-downs in the past. Well, with the veneer plant reopened, all the housing going on, and perhaps the meetings attended in Ottawa while mayor, may mean that Eldorado who is nearing a site decision may come in.

"Then too. there's still the possibility of that perhaps fall-off hydro station locating at Dean Lake, which should encourage other industries to come in. They have to come north, the south is getting too congested for any great expansion, so Blind River can't help but win, and I still believe it has a brighter future ahead," said Mr. Venturi, concluding on a note of real optimism.