Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-25

giving q Deach.llne OF nearly SOO miles
around the lake. Devils lake at it's
widest point, says the DEVILS Lake IN.
d. Inter Ocean, is about 10 miles in
width. Thus we have picturesque bays,
narrow straits, wide, gravelly beaches,
roaming surf, and a broad expanse of
water whose waves at times rave all the
grandeur of the old ocean. At other
times the surface of the lake is like a
mirror, without a ripple On it's surface.
At some points the shores are steep and
rocky; again they recede in bluffs rising
gradually to a height of evera hundred
feet, while at other points we. find low
lying meadows extending for miles from
the borders of the lake.
Devils lake is elevated 1900 feet above
the level of the sea-. It's water varies in
depth from a few feet to over 1OO,e and its
surface covers an area of about 100
square miles. There are no islands in it,
although some Of it's numerous PENN
sulas are known as islands, and un-
doubleday were such at an earlier period.
The lake has receded several feet since
1t was first discovered by white people.
With varying climatic influences 1t may
again reach a higher stage. That the
axe formerly covered a larger area is
evident from the fact that the low-lying
lands IN the vicinity have all the appear
ance Of a former lake bee. 1t was once
connected with Stump lake. some dis
toiSC W III SdSl VI IT'S present. tAlISIIiily
The lake was formed, according to the
theory of geological science, by the scour-
ing OF the projecting PROV of one of the
vast glaciers which, in prehistoric ages,
covered the entire northwest. The hills
on the southern shore have every appear
ance of having been plowed up by a
glacier. North Dakota is nearly all cov-
cred by the strata of the vast cretateous
deposits. Since the chalk period the
glacial drift has overwhelmed the coun-
try with deposits of gravel, clay, sand,
and lastly. the rich, black, sedimentary
loan which forms the remarkably fertile
soil of this section.
DEVILS lake has no visible outlet, but
it's surplus water probably finds its way
through subterranean passages in the
geological strata to the basins of the
Cheyenne, James and Red river valleys,
possibly to again reach the surface
through artesian wells.
The water of the lake is clear as crys-
tai, and is strongly impregnated with
sulphite and carbonate Of soda, lime,
magnesium. iron and soda, very much re-
! sembllng the water of the ocean. For
bathing it's equal ann be found in any
other interior body Of water in the coun-
try.
For beauty Of scenery, the lake sur
passes many of the famed lakes of the
east, and few indeed are the bodies of
water in this or any other country which
offer SO many attractions in the way Of
picturesque objects of interest. The
clear, orth Dakota skies, the surpass-
ingly beautiful sunset effects, the ever
changing beauty of verdure along its
shores, the salt sea-Water, the cOnven-
fence of access, the abundance of wild
! game and other features. make Devils
lake one of natures beauty spots which
will in time come to be appreciated by
hundreds of thousands of pleasure and
rest-seekers.
The name given the AXE by the Indians
is "Minnewaukan,'' Mime" (water) and
'waukan' (spirit), or Spirit lake, 1t has
been m~isinterpreted by the white people.
When the whites first came here the
Indians told them 'Minnewaukan seche"
Spirit lake is bad,"-referring to the
fact that the water is salty and not suit
able for drinking but the Interpretation
given it by the whites was BAD Spirit
lake" or Devils lake, n thus the name
has come down to us, an unfortunate
translation.
Devils lake is in the neutral ground
of the perpetual enemies, the Sioux and
the Chippewas, and is regarded with
superstitious dread by the Indians, who
have a legend that a terrific storm en-
| quilted two large fleets of Sioux and
Chippewas who We're engaged in a fierce
combat on it's surface, and that all the
warriors We're drowned. To this day the
red man never ventures on the waters Of
the lake, though hundreds of them live
on the reservation along its southern
shore.
On the south shore is Fort Totten. A.
military reservation covering some Is
square miles extends south from the lake,
and on the north shore there are two
smaller military wood reserves of about
five square miles in area each. Sur
rounding the larger military reservation
is the Devils lake Indian reservation,
extending along the entire length of the
south shore of the lake, and from two
to Is miles in width, tbs Cheyenne river
making the southern boundary of the
reservation.
The Gu head Sioux and the Chippewa
Indians, to the number of about 1900,
lave taken lands in severalty on the res
erVation. They are in an advanced stage
of civilization, all living in comfortable
houses, and cultivating farms. Ample
| provision is made for their education at
the industrial and mission schools at
Fort Totten. The buildings at Fort Tot
ten are substantial brick and frame
| structures. For several years companies
Of United States soldiers We're located
here. but some years ago it was deemed
by the government no longer necessary
to maintain a garrison at this point, and
the troops were moved to points further
| west. The buildings are now occupied
by the Indian agent and the industrial
school, where the Indian children are
taught not only the omrnon branches of
learning, but various industrial pursuits
as well.
| $40 sets of teeth $40. DR.. Wix. ,- .