St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-27
NEH INLAND SCI.

Why expend so much life and treasure in
arctic expeditions, while so much remains TO
be discovered, at our own doors, as it WERE
The existence of an unknown fresh water sea
in what is called the Northwest Territory has
long been suspected. 1t appears by recent
explorations, that beyond the almost un-
known lake Mistassini, only some 300 miles
from Quebec lies still another vast body of
water of great depth, equal in dimensions to
Lake Superior, though not yet accurately
measured. 1t is asserted that the Hudson
Bay Company have long known of the exis-
tence of this great lake, but for unknown
reasons have kept this knowledge to them
selves.
The Geographical Society of Quebec equip
ped and sent out an expedition led by ex-
perienced men last June beyond the known
limits of the survey. As a preliminary move
ment stores for nearly two years were con-
veyed in canoes to point agreed upon, and
then the expedition proceeded to make in
vestigations on its own account 1t returned
a few days ago with the report which has so
startled the scientific world. The information
obtained is that after crossing the slight sum-
NIT which divides the Hudson Bay and Sagu-
enay systems the expedition began to de-
scend the Rupert River, which at once
widened into great lake.
Up this body'of fresh water the party
Travelled 100 miles without reaching the
boundary of the lake. Indeed, from the con-
formation of the shore, it was evident that
they were at least as far from the northeast
ern end of the lake as from the river, with
the probabilities all in favor of a much
greater area. The water was very deep.
possessed all the characteristics of the great
lake system, teeming with the varieties of
fish found in Lakes Michigan and Superior,
namely, the great lake trout, white fish and
fresh water cousin of the cod. The party
encountered many islands, some of them of
great beauty, and indeed were weather
bound among them at times, a heavy sea
rolling in upon them. To persons who are
unacquainted with the great lakes the rapid
ity with which heavy sea rises in a storm
would cause establishment. BY these and
other phenomena, the great depth Of the
water at distance from shore and the very
gradual slope of the land, it is almost GER
tain that the estimated dimensions of this
inland sea have not been exaggerated.
That which is most impressive in the mat
ter is the disclosure of the enormous size of
the Northern portion of the continent, in
which such giant sea has lain con ceale d in
spite of the rapidly Increasing population,
the adventurous spirit of the age and the ia
cilities for exploration. A few months ago
an explorer on the western coast discovered
two great unknown rivers pouring into the
Pacific, one of which is comp arabic with the
Mississippi, and now toward the eastern ex-
tremity is found an unsupported sea. What
lies between them is yet matter of doubt
and mystery. 1t may be that northerly aud
westerly from Manitoba there lies yet another
lake, or perhaps a range Of lofty mountains,
from whose snow clad SUBMITS roll down
those icy blasts that make the blizzard of the
northwest and empurple ears and noses with
the too familiar cold waves of winter. With
this enormous tract of cou ntry TO explore
perhaps there will be no objection TO let Fu-
rope find her own Stanleys TO disclose the
Congos of the Dark Continent and reserve
the native adventurous spirits for the settle
ment of the questions that lie between the
northerly zone of civilization and the frozen
regions which explorers penetrate but to die.