St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-05-01
THE MlssouRrs FOUNTAIN HEAD
Source Of the River Traced t0 II
Crest Of the Rockies.


Crest Of the Rockies.
The researches of Mr.. J. v. Brewer,
of Minnesota, at the headwaters of the
Mississippi resulted, several years ago.
in the final determination Of the ex-
treme sources of that river. During the
summers of 1895 and 1896 Mr.. Brewer
was engaged in similar explorations of
the headwaters of the Missouri, and the
complete results Of his labors, together
with the excellent chart of the region
on q 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 few miles.
east and west, of the ultimate sources,
hut, Mr.. Brewer says, they did not ex-
p.ore Culver's canyon, through which
the parent stream flows; and that
stream has not heretofore appeared on
any map.
It might be thought that, after reach
ing the district, it would be an easy mat
ter to locate the fountain head of the
river. 1t was, in fact, the work Of weeks.
To identify the hendwater branch of the
Missouri It was necessary, first, to de-
termine the relative importance of all
the larger upper branches. This ex-
ploration was in progress for % days in
1895 before Mr.. Brewer was assured that
the stream flowed 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, declivities, and fallen timber;
and last summer he returned to make
the careful survey of the whole district
that has enabled him to produce this
map of the towering mountains that
hem in the infant Missouri, and of the
tributary streams that feed it.
Among the excellent pictures which
illustrate his narratives is one of the
place where the Rocky mountains are
abouts 6, 600 feet above sea level. This crest
forms the boundary between Idaho and
just within the southern border of the
latter state. The rivulet is only two
feet wide and two inches deep, drawing
its waters from the snowy uplifts that
rise little above it. These waters,
starting for the Gulf of Mexico, are
;,22l miles from it. They are 2.95s
miles from the mouth of the Missouri,
which exceeds the distance of the head
sources of the Mississippi from the gull
by 3a2 miles. There is every reason to
believe that the stream, starting from
that mountain crest, is the longest an
broken current of running water in the
world.
The position of the fountain head OF
the river is in ~ degrees IS minutes
rorth latitude. and Ill degrees 30 min
utes west longitude. Mr.. Brewer and
his party are entitled to much credit
for this excellent piece of geographical
investigation, which involved the as.
cent of number Of the mountains un.
der arctic conditions, for the snow was
deep there in June last. The entire dis
trict was carefully explored, the boIn-
Gary 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 in.
closing the canyon through which the
river flows are from 5000 to II 500 feet
,bove sea level. The chart gives graph
ic idea Of the photography and GRO
graphy Of the region, and is one Of the
best specimens Of map work that any
geographical society in this country
has produced.-N. +. Sun.