April 24, 1947 
 
 
 
Kenneth A. Reid 
Izaak a)alton League of America 
31 N. State Street 
Chicago, Illinois 
 
Dear Reid: 
 
     There goes out today a letter disbanding the Committee on Aircraft 
vs, Wilderness, Vie think, in view of the excellent report submitted, that

the committee has done a fine job. However, the report, as submitted, will

not accomplish much I fear. The problem, I believe, lies in the realm of

the law rather than in science. Dlaus Aurie has suggested forming a new 
counittee including legal members. This may be the vay to proceed, but I

am painfully aware of the long lapse of time which was required to prepare

the report, and time in this matter is of great importance. I am wondering,

therefore, if a commnittee of the National Research Council is the best way

to proceed with this problem. I believe there are one or two able and de-

voted lawyers who might be induced to take up the problem, as they would
a 
case in which they were retained. I am thinking particularly of Kelly and

Hubachek. Do you agree that they would be the right people? I think, like-

,wise, me could enlist the services of Houston Thompson, who fought through

the New River case, but Thompson is getting rather old and he does have a

good many commitments, so I am not sure we could command enough of his time

and strength to work up an 'ffective case. 
 
     In view of all the Izaak w.alton League is doing in the Quetico Superior

Area, you have, in a sense, a bigger stake in the problem than anyone else.

Do you suppose that you could induce Kelly and Hubachek, if they are the
right 
people, to undertake the job? Would it be best handled that way or would
it 
help them if they had some kind of an appointment from the National Research

Council, or some other form of public backing? Could they be retained by
the 
President's Quetico Superior Comrittee? One difficulty with proceeding to

secure legal talent on a National Research Council commnittee is the same
that 
prevented the present committee from backing the legal aspects of the problem
- 
namely, that the National Research Council is composed of people who are
experts 
in science. We are not experts in the law and we hesititt to spread out into