Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-08-06

~ ~ = ~ ASCAs
From Schoolcraft's s Narrative.
Etasca Lake--The Source Of the
Mississippi.
Itasca Lake, the Lac La Bieche of
the French, is in every respect a bSau-
tiful sheet of water, seven or eight
miles in extent, lying among hills Of
diluvial formation, surmounted with
pines, which fringe the distant hori-
zon, and form an agreeable contrast
with the green foliage OF its immedi-
ate shores. Its greatest length is
ftom southeast to northwest, with a
southern prolongation, or bay, which
receives q brock. The wateris temper
ate and bright rejecting . foliage pro-.
duced by the elm, lynn, maple and
cherry, together with other species
p1pre abundant Ii northern latitudes.
kesl elf II of "a i1EegN 1sl,
SssEsslon: B Iss sss s s
lasandspruce. Tia IA ilsh 1nd
of tortoise, found - ~ looality Of
former Indian camp fires, indicate
the existence of these species in the
lake. And here. as well as through
out the lakes Of this region, are found
the duck, teal and loon in possession
of their. favorite seclusions. Innu-
merable shells Ia species of small he
lix) were driven up to the head Of the
island. Other parts of the lake yield
small species of the umo, which are
found strewing the bed Of the outlet.
And it may here be remarked that
this shell exists in the largest and
heaviest species heretofore known in
the lower parts Of this stream-the
Mississippi having its origin here.
The outlet of Itasca Lake is per-
haps ten or twelve feet broad, with an
apparent depth of twelve or eighteen
inches. The discharge of water seems
to be copious, compared to its inlet.
Springs may, however, produce ac-
cessions which are not visible, and
this is probable, both from the geolog-
ical character of the country, and the
transparency and coolness of the wa
ter
The height Of this lake above the
sea is an object Of geographical in
terest, which, in the absence Of ac-
tual survey, it may subserve the pur-
poses of useful inquiry to estimate.
From notes on the ascent, it cannot
be short of one hundred and sixty
feet above Cass Lake. Adding the
estimate of $40 feet, submitted in
1920 as the elevation Of that lake, the
Mississippi may be considered to orig
mate at an altitude of 400, say l,
500 feet above the Atlantic.
Its si0sgth, assuming former date
as the basis, and computing itthrough
the ltascan, or west fork, may be
placed at 4,l60 miles, one hundred
eighty two Of which comprise an es-
innate of its length above Cass Lake.
Its 1eral course, in ascending above
the latter point, is north of west; as
tar as Lac Travers, Then south to
its primary forks, which is continued,
following up the east fork to oRubbak-
una Lake, and for some distance
further, 1t then varies short dis
tance north and northeast, then south
and southeast, and finally southwest,
to its main source in Ossawa Lake
The portage thence to jtasca Lake
is west-south- west. Both of these
lakes appear to rise in springs, on
the height of land. They are sepa-
rated by about six miles of country.
Their latitude we had no means of
accurately determining, From daily
notes of the course and distances,
kept by Lieut., J. Allen, as indicated
by a compass and watch, their posi-
ton is, however shown to be south
west; and not, a. heretofore supposed,
north of Cass Lake. They
are, in fact, little south of west
from Leech Lake, which is placed on
our best maps in forty-seven degrees
sixteen minutes. The highest north
ing obtained by the Mississippi is one
of the great diluvial plateau, contain
ing the contiguous waters Of Lac La
Sable, Marquette, and Travers, which
cannot vary more than few minutes
from forty eight degrees. These
facts will explain the error Of geo.
graphical writer's, who supposed that
the parallel of forty-nine degrees
would intersect the Mississippi. Its
origin in the remote and unfrequent-
ed area of country between Leech
Lake and Red River, probably an
entire degree Of latitude south ol
Turtle Lake, which still figures or
some Of our maps as its source, throws
both the forks of this stream out o.
the usual route of the fur trade, and
furnishes perhaps the best reason
way its act,,a.sonrce has remained sc
long enyelored in obscurity. The
Mississippi; River Traverses more de.
grees of latitude than any other river
in America, and the remark might
perhaps, beextended TO the habitablt
globe. The extremes of its chan
ges in climate and vegetable produc
tons are consequently very great. |
occupies more than three thousant
miles of the distance between thu
artic and equator. Long as it its
however, it has a tributary longs
than itself (the Missouri.) Like tht
Niger, its mouth was discovered by