The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-10
THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI.
Its Source Traced By Minnesota Ex-
plorer5.
From the Neto York Times.

From the Netc York Times.
ST. PAUL, May 81. V. Brewer, COM
missioner of the Minnesota Historical So
ciety to explore and make scientific sur
vey of the headwaters Of the Mississippi
river, and to determine what waters con-
stitute the true sources of this mighty river,
returned to this city this evening, well
laden with data, from which he will pre-
pare a report for the historical society.
Il am not prepared to make my report"
said NJ. Brewer, but | can easily give you
ashort account of my trip and my work i'll
that nor hern region. left this city March
l. and few days later | and my party ar
rived at the lower end of Lake Itasca.
From that point, which is the north end,
made all my measurements From that
base / followed every running stream,
measured Lakes Itasca and Elk, and found
their alt tude, latitude, and longitude.
Lake ltasca has two divisions, and the south
east arm, known as TurndelPs arm, was
FIRST explored. In the eastern arm found
many streams running into the lake, but
there was one principal stream which had
good supply OF water. This stream comes
from the southwark. and is supplied from
an almost endless chain Of lakes lying in a
valley stretching southwark. The first
lake up this valley is thirty-two feet higher
Il
and las deph of 40 feet From this there
ho"s steady stream. The greater part of
thls valley is still to he explored.
The western division, however, is the
more important one. and furnishes the
streams and lakes over which has grown
this dispute. find here three streams en-
lerlng from the west side Of the west arm,
ana ana from the east side of the arm enters
Elk creek, from Elk lake, which Glazier
mas called the source of the Mis- sissippi. !
Traced Elk creek from Itasca to E k lake by
meander lines, and found it to be 100 feet
IN length. This stream. in the sprIugtime,
Is, d good, large one, but l havs not the
snghtest doubt that it is very often dried
Up In TACT, saw it when it had not more
qua an inch OF running water. Elk lake
10 oi good size, but it is quite similar to
any others in this basin. The shores are
MTaIs y, and there are no defined beaches.
~ may De interesting to know that Itasca
Bno, beacned.
next turned my attention to Nicollt
suSoln. his was meandered for 500 feet
and found other streams running into IT,
ronUUWllg up this system of streams and
a,n'l hKes, which are in great valley and
4 e e sepal ated from Elk lake by well de-
uneu rluge OF ground, came 70 MANY
Smlngs until finally Whipple lake was
eacned. Further up the valley stand two
@iee lakes which are well beached md
LIiy deep They are fully as large as Elk
isae Now. my theory is this: Since there
% S a wen defined ridge Of ground extending
distance Of six miles from Lake Itasca to
bo ese unnamed lakes, there are two distinct
f sS rSius' each having its system of streams
H. III 'akes. In comparing these two, Elk
sA' ana Its short and small stream
F aA INTO insigniicance. On the OF or
So, We have long system OF streams,
a YVES ana lakes, extending from Itasca TO
II sooulPple lake. Whipple lake has no surface
n E yruiecuon with these two large LAKE;
ana Ia ae up the valley. but they are so high
S MAJ 80 large that the pressure, believe, is
n n TVIvy,eht TO force the water underground
8 gi,W.ituippie lake. Here is the source Of the
Whiosiippl. The water o7ce havi z reached
PROV u,pple lake, 1t passes through the marshy
fbs,a u, ana, comiug up in Syringe, forms
VIZ, small LAKES, known as Nicollet lakes
4 cr eiin nnally give rise to the Nicollet
4 ma I I party Of explorers with mo we're
ara '' mo IN the opinion that these lakes
spSr sue source and furnish the greater
FFJ Vi water Of Lake Itasca.n
4
mat will cure the worst case OF dyspep-
aei What will insure a hearty anpetlts
81 a1 increased digestloni WHAT will cure
NNH