St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-16

river in the world. The complete his
tory of this great waterway, II written, |
would fill volumes. The reason Tor the |
interest at present taken in the place !
above mentioned arises from inVeStiga-
tiOns there made in 1881 by a gentleman
whose name is a familiar one through |
out our country. In July of that year, |
by a new and untried route, he |
made his way to what he claimed was
the ultimate source of the Father OF
Waters. From 1882 up to the time OF
the visit of the gentleman referred to,
Capt. Willard GlaZier, the geographical
world had accepted as true the state
ment of SchOolcratt as to the fountain
head of the great stream. The an
nouncement made by GlaZier was a
surprise to the geographers of our land.
As one somewhat versed in the history
and geography of the country, l became
interested in the claim put forth by
him. | had been an early pioneer in
Minnesota, had travelled for days and
nights OH the pure waters of the Upper
Mississippi. As a hunter l had sailed
its tributaries and camped along their
shores. What more natural than that
l. though no longer a resident within
her borders, should take an interest
in the said to be new source ? l
OtRdll dllCh- lllC OlUNg VI luO AINOl
and its place of beginning, l investi-
gated the claim of Capt GlaZier, read
the numerous Endorsements of it, di-
gested the pamphlet of Gen. Baker,
heard and read of the progress of Mr..
Brewer in that locality, and in fact be-
came quite familiar with all reports On
the question of the True Source"
since the assertion made by Glazier in
1881. One thing became evident to my
mind and that was the latter gentleman
had never receded in any manner from
the position first taken, which was that
the true source was in a lake to the
south of 1tasca, known to the Indians
as PO-keg-a-ma. After a long and care
full study of the question, hearing all
the pros and cons, l could not help be-
lieving that the claim put forth to the
geographical world by GlaZier was
right. l had never seen the lake of
Schoolcraft. neither had I beheld the
POkegama lake of the Chippewas, but
had seen their tribute as it fell in beauty
over the falls of st. Anthony, and
had noted its onward rush to
the gulf, three thousand miles away.
l saw with what tenacity the explorer
of 1881 chung to what he asserted was
geographical truth revealed. The
thought came to me, This man is hon
est IN his convictions" In vain would
be the statement put forth that any lake
was the source of river without all the
requisites to sustain such assertion. l
believe there were to be found in what
ishOw known to many as Lake GlaZier.
Upon investigation found many who
agreed with me in this belief. The
written testimony of eminent educators,
geOgraphers and compilerS of cyclic
pediaS l examined with care. Early
in the present year rumors of another
expedition to be made by GlaZier
reached my ear. Later an opportunity
was presented to me to become mem
Der Of the party of distinguished gen
tlemen who are to leave st. Paul Aug.
II to ascertain for themselves and 9th
eTs the truth or falsity of the claim OF
Willard Glazier to have located in 1881
the true source of the Mississippi river.
So strong is the captain in the merit and
Justice of the statement then made that
ne has called about him the largest and
most influential party of gentlemen that
have ever visited the headWaters. AS
an humble member of that body, GO
with the honest purpose of seeing f0r
myself the foundation upon which
have built my belief. As a historian OF
some repute in the "Old Bay State" il
would i'll become me to give my sane