St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-05
CURBsTONE COMMENT.

of a wider knowledge of the early days
of the republic than DR.. Mel, professor
at Macallister college. The reverend
gentleman has made the history of his
country study, and has contributed
some valuable articles in the calculation
of many obscure historical events. He
is a facile writer, and scrupulOusly accll-
rate in details. His. pamphlet, George
westinghouse Man for a Crisis" Is
worthy of place in every household
within the Union. 1t breathes with pa
triotism from title page to fms, and
gives concise, epigraimmatic outline
of the nations hero. Wgshington's
character IS tOuchingly outlined, and
the difficulties he encountered glowing
ly set forth. There is large amount of
ignorance displayed in regard to Wash
ington, not alone in the ordinary
walks of life, but also among cultured
society. In his centennial address
Tuesday last, DR.. Christie remarked
breath upon the character of George
Washington. DR.. Mel was afterwards
heard to remark: .'Dr. Christie says
that which he knows nothing about"
Among the assistants accompanying
DR.. j, V. Brewer in his recent eXplora-
ton of the Itasca basin was young
Englishman named Cowley. He is an
engineer, and is near relative OF Lady
Wolseley, the wife of Lord Wolseley,
general OF the English army.
Any reference to the Brewer explora-
ton at once calls to mind Capt. Willard
Glazier. 1t is strange that the claims of
GlaZier as the discOverer of Elk lake
should have held the attention of the
public so long. The absurdity of the
claim that this lake was the source of
the Father of Waters, and that Willard
was the first discoverer Of Elk lake, has
been demonstrated over and over again.
This lake was noted by Schoolcraft in
his journey to the ItaSca region
in 1882, and had been so recorded by
subsequent explorers and the United
States surveyors. Glaciers own ac-
count of his exploration stamp the alb
surdity of his investigation, ''He sights
Lake Itasca between OF o'clock
on July 81, 1881, and passed di-
rectly to Schoolcraft island, where he
at once went into camp, and retiring
early, he did not begin the exhaustive
work OF exploration until a. m. OF the
S~u: Gllcu puItlIlS Ills CduOco lHtO
water, and following the guidance OF
tiers to be discovered. He enters the
lake, hoists a flag fires a
volley, they make speeches,
as he alleges. and announces
that he has completed the work begun
by De Soto in 1911! They Immediately
left the lake. and padded back into
Itasca, and at o'clock in the afternoon
of the same day began the descent OF
the river" In other words. Capt.
Willard GlaZier did in seven hours what
the world had failed to do since the
days of De Soto, three hundred and
forty years before!
~
With the matter at their disposal it is
surprising that the reports of state Off
cialS are such tame and commonplace
productions. Many of these reports,
and upon the publication of which the
state eXpends hundreds of thousands of
dollars, are nothing but a dreary waste
of figures, proving nothing, and of no
essential value to the public. EXcep-
tons must be made of the reports of the
dairy commissioner and the secretary Of
the state board of corrections and char
tiles, which are filled with pages of good,
instructive criticisms and statistical
data.
Among the reports published under
the patronage of the state is that OF the
Minnesota commission of fisheries. This
is most peculiar report, in that it
gives extracts from the diary kept by
the superintendent of the fish hatchery
''to show the character and continuity
of the commission work." Some of
these extracts are very racy reading:
with bright and beautiful DAY, and a large
number of visitors from the city and some
others from the neighbOrlng camps less wei
come by far-but all received due attention.
Aug. 31.-One of the men struck for more
pay, As it was not deemed eXped1ent, his
demands were not conceded by the commits
sion. In consequence he stopped work and
left the premises at once.
Sept. 9.-We began to ornament the top OF
our high board fence with barbed wire to re-
intorce its efficiency in keeping out climbers.
Climbing seemed to be considerably checked,
but bad grammer, of the profane order and
torn trousers seem to be increased thereby.
Feb. list. Valentines day; began filling
the ice house for summer use in distribution.
Feb. 25.-The daily routine of examining
and removing dead or diseased eggs requires
much time and careful attention from all
hands at every stage of incubation.
July 16-Another strike among employees:
One discharged and another kept at advanced
pay.
Oct. 23-We arrived battered and tired
enough from our Lake Superior experiences,
and glad to be home again in Matching house
instead of tossing about in boat on tue
stormy lake.
The continuity of the commission
work is very grand, but the connection
between barbed fences, profane gram.
mar and the spawning of fish is diff
cult to understand.