The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-12-01

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noticed stream known as South
Fork coming from the southeast.
Above the mouth of this stream sew
eral small streams enter, but none of
sufficient importance to warrant
/ more than a mere mention until we
nhd stream OF iair stZe entering on
the west side, called Back Hoof
creek. Above the mouth of Black
lloot creek, TO the source of the
Left Hand, we noticed no streams
entering OF any note. The source
of Left Hand is at or near Horn
hanging Lake. The Indians, who
are familiar with this portion of the
country, express their belief that
connection exists between the head
waters OF the Left Hand river and
those Of branch Of Kettle river. 1t
is asserted, by those who have am
/ pie opportunities for ascertaining
the truth, that similar connections
exist between the St. Croix river
and the Bois Brute river at the Up
peas CroiX Lake, and between
the west fork Of Bad river and the
Nemacoggan at Long Lake. 1t is a
well substantiated fact, that many
of the largest lakes are situated on
the brosd summit Il vel Of the great
water shed, and in many cases,
where critical examinations have
been made, or reliable information
obtained, these lakes have been
fund to be tributary both to Lake
Superior on the north and the Mis-
sisSlppi river on the southeast.
These functions are always found to
exist III sWamps, some of which are
very extensive, and, although the
amount Of water afforded TO both
the northern and southern streams
IS sufficient to render them nayig-
able for light canoes in the dryest
seasons, still, in no instance has il
Deen found practicable 10 conduct
canoes from one stream to another,
through the swamp in which the
lnterlockage is made. These facts,
so briefly given, possess a signific-
ance that ought to prove more than
sufficient to elicit tie most earnest
consideration. They forever ex-
piode tile absurd tallacy, so long
entertained by Otherwise Intelligent
men, that the water divide which
separates the streams flowing north
from those flowing south, was con
stitpted Of a continuous ridge, or, at
least, a succession Of we'll defined
ridges, Of more or less altitude. We
leave this interesting problem to be
settled by scientific exploration.
Returning to our original starting
point, we Will low IN detail notice
briefly the streams that enter the
St. Louis river on the south side,
above the Left Hand river.
About six miles west, we find a
fine stream, known as the Pokega-
ma river, entering Pokegama Bay.
This stream heads near section SO,
range l6, town ~, and runs par
allel with the Left Hand river. tt
has numerous branches, aud with a
judicious outlay of few hundred
dollars might be rendered a good
driving stream. The general char
acteristics of the country drained
by this differs but little from that
described along the Left Hand river
Higher up the river, and mile
or two below the village Of Fon du
Lac, Lords creek enters. 1t is
small stream.
Six miles higher up, Silver creek
enters. Numerous rapids are found
in the lower portion OF this stream.
Some years ago an effort was made
to improve this stream for logging
purposes. A dam was constructed,
but the difficulties encountered IN I
running1ogs safely over the dalles
of the st. Louis ere of so serious Il
nature that the project was finally
abandoned
The next stream, and the last that I
we will notice entering the ST. |
Louis river on the south side, Is
Otter creek. The point where ii
forms JUNCTION Is opposite the vii
sge of Thomson. For the distance
OF half a mile from its mouth, it
makes its way through lodges of
argillaceous slate, and goes tumbl-
ing and roaring along its rocky
channel. As We proceed up ..the
stream the character of the country
undergoes a radical change. The
stream meanders its serpentine