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by Karen MacPherson, Blade National Bureau
The Blade (Toledo, OH)
11-5-99
WASHINGTON -- Two House Republicans questioned yesterday why the federal government should earmark up to $3.1 million to help convert the Fallen Timbers battlefield in Maumee into a national historic site when the land is owned by the city of Toledo.
"If they [Toledo officials] think it's so important, why haven't they preserved it?" asked Rep. Joel Hefley (R., Colo.) during a hearing by the House subcommittee on national parks and public lands. The panel discussed whether Fallen Timbers should be taken into the national park system.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) responded that the battlefield "is more than a local site. It is a national site. it is historically significant in terms of the history of our country."
She said that the 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers, in which U.S. forces commanded by Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne defeated a group of American Indian tribes, was pivotal in opening the Midwest to development. This is the 205th anniversary of the battle.
Rep. Richard Pumbo (R., Calif.) asked whether the land designated as battlefield site is listed as "endangered" by the National Park Service because of fears the city might sell it to developers.
Sen. Mike DeWine (R., O.), sponsor of the Senate version of the Fallen Timbers measure, contended that the question isn't what the city will do or won't do about development. It is abundantly clear that this area is ripe for development," Mr. DeWine said. The 185-acre battlefield is on a partially wooded field at I-475 and U.S. 24. It is just part of a much larger parcel of land acquired by the city of Toledo years ago as an investment, Miss Kaptur said. A developer has proposed building a shopping center on part of that larger parcel.
"We're trying to preserve history at the same time as accommodate development," Miss Kaptur said.
The federal share of purchasing the land from the city of Toledo could be as much as $3.1 million. The state of Ohio has appropriated $2 million and Maumee has pledged $500,000. The land was estimated by some local officials at one time as worth $7.5 million, but a formal state appraisal of the land's worth is under way.
Despite the questions by Mr. Pumbo and Mr. Hefley, the bill appears ready to move quickly through the legislative process and could pass the House as early as next week, Miss Kaptur predicted after the hearing.
The Senate has passed the measure, which formally created the Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site. The site would be managed by the Metropark District of the Toledo area with input from the National Park Service.
The Clinton administration supports the legislation, which is the first of two measures needed to preserve the battlefield.
A second measure, which strongly suggests that the National Park Service earmark federal funds for the Fallen Timbers battlefield, has been passed by Congress as part of a spending bill for the U.S. Interior Department.
The spending bill may be wrapped up in a federal spending bill as Congress rushes to adjourn in the next week or two.
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