Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-30
MISSISSIPPI'S SOURCE.
Willard ;,isSier Tells Eow lie Came
10 Discover 1t Lately.
THERE WAS ANOTHER SHALL LAKE
EeSiGeS Tie :taSca TO Y hich the Credit las
long Esen Gives.
TIE aETAILs OF rfE EXPECTATION


which he SAYS: "Fcr nearly so wears priol
TO 1881, it had been generally accepted a.
established beyond question that the ulti
mate source OF the Mississippi was in Lake
I5ssca, Northern Minnesota. Henry Rowe
Schoolcraft, geologist of the Cass ExpeGi.
tion and leader of a subsequent exploring
party, had announced to the world his dis
covery of this lake in the wear 1882, and
pronounced it veritas caput, or true head OF
the Great River.
'Geographers, map makers, educational
publishers, college faculties and teachers in
variably published and taught that the
source of the Mississippi was in the lake
thus designated by Schoolcraft. However,
few pioneers and Others who had come in
contact with Indians on the Chippewa Res
ovation stoutly denied the claim of Itasca to
the distinction given it by its discoverer.
This tact, coupled with an earnest desire to
ascertain the truth or error of Schoolcraft,
led me to organize an expedition. having for
its object the possible settlement of the
mooted question. That expedition resulted
in locating a hitherto unrecognized lake to
the south of Itasca as the primal reservoir,
on the 22d day OF July, 1881"
The Cause of the Expedition.
The discovery that lake of fair propor-
lions, above and beyond Itasca was the true
source of the Mississippi, was followed by
az attempt to discredit the validity of Mr..
Glaziers statements; and misrepresenta-
lions were made which rendered it expedi-
ent that further investigation should be
made in that quarter, and in Nav last an
expedition was formed, but it was not until
August that il started for the new lake.
On August p Mr.. Glazier saws: I'VE
broke camp at : \. NJ, and were soon in
our canoes padding up the southwestern
arm of the lake. as it was the intention to
establish camp and base of operations on
5he south side of the elevation Of land
which separates that arm of Itasca from the
lake which Is the true source of the Missis-
sipDi. As we approached the southern end
of I5aSca, my companions were more than
usually interested. 1t was this part of
Itasca, together with the fine lake beyond,
and their respective feeders, which have
occupied the attention of geographers for
the past ten wears. Directly in front of us
was small stream, known as Pine or
Nicollet creek, the outlet OF ponds situated
in marshes to the southwark. This creek,
and the ponds in which it originates were
named by lny party in 1851, but have since
been visited, christened and rechristened so
many times by two or three gentlemen from
people of Minnesota or elsewhere have any
definite idea of their claim to consideration.
The Mouth of the Infant River.
1--WE now sought the mouth of the infant
Mississippi, the view being obstructed, as
during my former visit by rank growth of
reeds. rushes and wild rice Fixing my eve
upon Q small pine which marks the precise
point OF entrance, We turned our canoes and
pushed them through the dense vegetation
out into the clear water of the inlet. / was
now in my old tracks, ascending the stream
which originates in the lake which has. for
more than q decade, been the central figure
in geographical discussion in this country
I'VE continued to move up the stream
until stopped by fallen trees, then, landing
we hastened forward on foot to the crest of
the hill which overlooks Lake Glazier and
its outlet Much has been said and written
since my former visit to this interesting
spot tending to throw discredit upon nv
announcement of that date, and vet hon
estlv believe and feel confident that shall
be able TO maintain that this extensive body
Of water-the Pokerama of the Chippewas
renamed after me by the companions of
nv first expedition, is the primal reservoir,
that it was not so considered prior to our
expedition of 1881, and that we were the
first to correctly locate its feeders and es-
iabllsh its true relation to the Mississippi
river
Exploring Lake Itasca's Feeders.
''The next dav Surveyors Horton and
Keav. accompanied bv Messrs Cobb, Crane,
Cutting, Whitney and myself, proceeded to
the mouth Of Pine or Nicollet creek. The
length, width. depth and velocity of this
stream were to be ascertained by careful
measurement We found it was 10 feet at
its mouth aud % feet deep. We then as
cended the creek, and came to small pond,
OF rather q floating bog, which on being |
measured was found to be less than half an |
acre in extent Continuing up the creek, |
we reached a second pond, somewhat larger |
than the first, and q few yards further on, |
To the origin Of the stream in a spring at the |
foot OF a sandhilL The distance from Lake |
Itasca to this spring was found to be 1907 |
ieet."
Then Itasca was coasted for its feeders. |
The outlets OF six small streams were found, |
two having well-defned mouths, and four |
fltering into the lake through bogs The |
stream flowing from Lake Glazier-known |
IS the Infant Mississippi-and the one from |
the NicOllet Valley, are the only affiuents
OF Lake ltasca worthy of consideration.
: Mammoth Side Hill Spring.
Mr.. Glazier, continuing, saws: Excelsior |
creek was so named by me for the reason
t12t it is the longest, and, in its origin, the |
highest stream which pays tribute to the |
primal reservoir of the great river. Leav-
irg the prOmontory, we continued along the |
southern shore to the mouth of Deer creek,
where we landed and walked along the
white sand beach. Our attention was ar
rested by the great number of deer and |
moose tracks indenting the beach. A SINH
lar incident during nv previous visit caused
me to give to the stream falling into the
lake at this point the name of Deer creek
On our way back the sound of a waterfall
was heard on the eastern shore, which, on
examination, we found to originate in
spring on the side of a hill, about
20 feet above the lake.
"A stream Of great velocity rushed down
the hillside, and, passing over broken
ground, formed a cascade midway betN cen
its source and the lake. The water was
largely impregnated with iron. / NAV here
state that this lake is nearly an oval in
form, its greatest diameter being a fraction
less than two miles. Its area is 255 acres,
aud the average depth 45 feet. The water
IS exceedingly clear and pure, revealing in
the shallower parts pebbly bed. Its higi,
and thickly wooded SHORES are extremely
the regularity anu uniformity
Of the trees and their luxuriant foliage
giving the scene an artistic semblanee to an
extensive park, rather than a wild product
Of nature. The pine, spruce, tamarack and
several varieties Of hardwood, including
oak, beech, birch and maple, were observed
from our canoe, gracefully bending to the
passing breeze"
Conclusions Reached; BY the Parsy.
Several more days were passed in the
IL. Il 4