Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1834-08-28
E,om The Ralsfmore. American.

| from SchoOIcratt'S Narrative, the new vol
ume Of travels in the North West, just pub
liShed by the Harpers. ltasca Lake is the
head water of the Mississippi river. fact
Of importance to Geographical science first
determined by the exerions and enterprise
of this expedition, fitted out under the di-
rection Of the present Secretary of War.
The description is agreeable, and will be
read with interest.
Itasca Lake, the Lac la Biche Of the
French, is, in every respect, beautiful
sheet Of water, seven or eight miles in ex-
tent, lying among the hills Of diluvial for
nation, surmounted with pines, which
fringe the distant horizon, and form an a.
greeable contrast with the greener foliage
Of its immediate shores. Its greatest
length, is from south east to north west,
with southern prolongation, or bay, which
receives brook. The waters are trans
parent and bright, and reflect foliage pro-
d"ced by the elm, lynn, maple and cherry,
together with other species more abundant
in northern ATTITUDES. The lake itself is
Of irregular form, which will be best illus
trated by the accompanying sketch: 1t has
singular island upon which we landed.
after an hours padding from the spot Of
our arrival and embarkation. We found
here the forest trees above named growing
promiscuously with the betula and spruce.
The bones Of fish and Of tortoise, found at
the locality of former Indian camp fires,
indicate the existence of these species in
the lake. We observed deer, standing
in the margin of the lake. Aud, here, as
we'll as throughout the lakes of the region,
found the duck, teal and loon, in possession
of their favori.e seclusions. Innumerable
shells, Ia species Of small helix,) were
driven up to the head of the island. 9th
er parts of the lake yield small species of
the unio, which were found strewing the
bed Of the outlet. And it may here be
that this shell exists, in the lar
gest and heaviest species heretofore known,
in the lower parts Of this streac-the Mis-
sissippi having its origin here.
The outlet of Itasca Lake, is perhaps
ten to twelve feet broad, viii, an apparen,
depth of twelve to eighteen inches. The
discharge Of water appears to BE- copious,
compared to its inlet. Springs may, how
ever, produce accessions which are not
visible, and this is probable both from the
geological character of the country, and
the transparency and GOODNESS ofthe water.
The height Of this lake, above the sea,
is an object geographical interest, which,
in the absence Of actual survey, it may
subserve the purposes of useful inquiry to
estimate. From notes taken on the ascent,
i, cannot be short Of one hundred and six
t;s,ate vi 1886 1eev!. AXE. Adding the es-
- 81, lab hn Srfvs~
may be considered to originate at an alt'-
tude of 1890, say 1900 feet above the At
lan,ic. Its length, assuming former data
as the basis, and computing it. through the
Tuscan, or west fork, may be placed at
316O miles; one hundred and eighty-two Of
which, comprises an estimate OF its length
above Cass Lake. Its general course, 10
ascending above the latter point, is north
Of west, as far as Lac Travers. Then
south to its primary forks which is contl"-
ued, following up the east fork to kubba-
kunna Lake, and for some distance further.
Il then varies a short distance. north and
northwest, then southwest and south, and
finally southwest, to its main source IN Us
sowa Lake. The portage thence to itas-
ca Lake, is west southwest. Both these
lakes appear to rise in springs, on the height
of land. They are separated by about six
miles of country. Their latitude, We had
no means of accurately determlning.-
From daily notes Of the courses and dis
tances, kept by Lieut.. J. Allen, as ind'ca'
ted by a compass and watch, their position
is, however, shown to be southwest, and
not, as heretofore supposed. northwest, 81
Cass Lake. They are, in fact, little
south of west from Leech Lake, which il
placed, on our best maps, in torty-sever
degrees sixteen minutes. The highest
nor,hing attained by the Mississippi, is one
of the great diIuvial plateau, containing
the contiguous waters of Lakes La Sale
Marquette and Travers, which cannot va
nv more than few minutes, from forty
eight degrees. These facts will explain
the error of the elder geographical writer's
who supposed that the parallel OF forty
nine degrees would intersect the MississiP
ri. Its origin in the remote and Mnfre
auented area Of country between LeecI
Lake and Red River, probably an ent'r'
degree Of latitude south Of Turtle Lake
which still figures on some OF our maps a
its source, throws both the forks OF It
stream out of the usual route Of the III
trade, and furnishes perhaps the best rea
SON why its actual sources have rsma'ne'
so long enveloped 10 obscurity.
| The Mississippi river traverses more DE
grees of latitude than any other river u