Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-10
THE MIssoURrs FOUNTAIN HEAD.
Source of the River Traced 60 the
Crest of the Rockies.
Now York Sun


The researches Of Mr.. ]. " Brewer OF
Minnesota at the headwaters OF the Missis-
sippi resulted, several years ago, In the
final determination of the extreme sources
OF that river. During the summers Of 1898
and 1896 Mr.. Brewer was engaged In similar
explorations of the headwaters Of the Mis-
souri,, and the complete results OF his labors,
together with an excellent chart Of the re-
gion on a scale of one inch to the mile are
first made public In the Bulletin of the
American Geographical society, Just issued.
Two government survey parties In 1872
approached within a few miles, east and
west, OF the ultimate sources, but, Mr..
Brewer says they did not explore Culver's
canyon, through which the parent stream
flows; and that stream has not heretofore
appeared on any map.
1t might be thought that, after reaching
the district, 1t would be an easy matter to
locate the fountain head OF the river Ii
was In fact the work OF weeks. To identify
the headwater branch OF the Missouri IL
was necessary, first, to determine the rela-
tive Importance Of all the larger upper
branches. This exploration was in progress
for twenty-five days in 1895 before Mr.
Brewer was assured that the stream flow
ing through Culver's canyon into Red Rock
creek, which, further down, becomes known
as Beaver Head river, Jefferson Fork, and
the Missouri, was the ultimate source OF
the great river. He proved this to be true
by making his way with much difficulty up
the canyon. impeded at every step by lodges,
declvities. and fallen timber; and last sum-
mer he returned to make the careful survey
OF the whole district that has enabled him
to produce this map of the towering noun
tains that hem in the infant Missouri, and
Of the tributary streams that feed It,
Among the excellent pictures which Illus
trate his narrative is one of the place where
the stream has its birth. at the crest OF the
Rocky mountains about 5000 feet above
sea level This crest forms the boundary
between Idaho and Montana and the river
takes its rise just within the southern bor-
der of the latter state. The rivulet Is only
two feet wide and two inches deep, drawing
it's waters from the snowy uplfts that rise
little above It. These waters, starting
for the Gulf Of Mexico, are 4,221 miles
from 1t. They are 2,945 miles from the
mouth of the Missouri, which exceeds the
distance of the head sources OF the Missis-
sippi from the gulf by 392 miles. There is
every reason to believe that the stream,
starting from that mountain crest, Is the
longest unbroken current of running water
in the world
The position of the fountain head of the
river Is in Al degrees 35 minutes north
latitude. and III degrees SS minutes west
longitude. Mr.. Brewer and his party are
entitled to much credit for this excellent
piece of geographical investigation, which
involved the ascent of a number of the
mountains under Arctic conditions, for the
snow was deep there in June last The en-
tire district was carefully explored, the
boundary line between Idaho and Montana
was traced along the crest of the noun
tains, and stone monuments were reared
on the state line at various points. The
highest SUBMITS of the mountains enclosing
the canyon through which the river flows are
from 5000 to 1,500 feet above sea level
The chart gives a graphic idea of the hydro
graphy and geography of the region, and is
one of the best specimens of map work that
any geographical society in this country has
produced