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

one. at all times they have been ex-
amined by me, in 1883, 1889 and 1891,
Nicollet's Infant Mississippi river has
been found to be the largest in volume
of water, and the larger and more i'm
portant in every particular, with seY-
eral perennial branches augmenting its
pre-eminence above the southwest
limit of Itasca lake. where it discharges
its waters into the lowest. in point of
elevation. of the several lakes there
situated. Selecting Mary valley and
NicolIet valley as the two most remote
watersheds within the Mississippi
basin, the ordinary rules of photography
were applied, and it was found that
Mary valley contained the lesser ulti-
mate reservoir and NicOllet valley the
greater ultimate reservoir of the
Mississippi river system, each
ural surface flOwage. Then came the
application of natures common rule. as
to whence came the waters supplying
the streams draining these two ultimate
water systems at the source of the Mis-
sissippi. 1t having been found that
NicOllet valley contained the more I'M
pOrtant reservoir, supplying to 1tasca
lake the larger and longer volume of
surface flOwage. l beg your indulgence
in a minute description of this most
remote and ultimate system in the great
Mississippi basin, situated within the
state palk.
NicOIIet Valley.
The perennial stream flowing down
the inner TANKS of the Hauteur de Terre
to Itasca. through Nlcollet valley. was
discovered by Jean n. Nicollet in 1886.
At the point where Its waters flow into
Itasca lake it was forty feet in width
and two feet in depth at the date of my
survey. Narrowing as you ascend
the stream, it becomes three feet
in depth a shoEt distance from
ltasca lake. with an increased current.
Passing up this interesting stream. the
explorer is impressed with its impOr-
lance by its sharply defined banks,
with its winding, meandering channel,
deeply cut down into the stratum to a
sandy, gravelly bed, with every appear
ance and characteristic of the Missis-
Sippi below Itasea lake. 1t has sand
bars. sharp angles in Its channel. deep
and Swallowing currents, and all the
more striking features of larger river.
Large trees found near its banks incline
toward the stream; variety of fish,
large and small, were found in its
waters: the mink. otter and muSkrat
abOunded, and wild ducks of many
Northern varieties were from time TO
time noticed i'll its channel. Trees have
been felled in several places across its
banks to permit of passage on foot.
Upon the removal of these trees canoes
might be propelled nearly two miles up
this principal channel from ltasca lake.
These are portion of the character
istics of the stream, indicating its per
manency and Importance, and what is
true of no other stream within the state
park, it has three aff1uent branches
flowing in from the heights of land to
the westward, which augment its i'm
pOrtance and permanency above any
other stream found there. These are
Demaray creek, over one mile in length.
Howard creek. nearly mile in length,
and Spring Ridge creek. each fed by
numerous springs, sharply indicating
artesian pressure from the lakes higher
Up the flank of the ltasca moraine. At
Nicollet's Middle lake is found the
northern limit of the greater ultimate
reservoir, with the Mississippi river
flowing out of it toward Itasca lake.
My lines of level and measure
ments were continued from this point
up through the trough of the
reservoir to Nicollet's Upper lake. of
doubtful existence, to the Mississippi
springs, Floating Moss lake, Whipple
lake, the Triplet lakes, Morrison lake
and fernando de Soto lake, the last
named being the most elevated and dis
tant water, from the Gulf of Mexico,
within the Mississippi basin, exclusive
of waters emanating from the summit
of the Rocky mountains at the source Of
the Missouri. Elevations above the sea.
at the greater ultimate reservoir, are as
follows: