The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1901-09-05
.BeItrarlli
Old Settlers
Meet and Organize an AssOcia-
ton at Buena Vista, on
the Famous
Continental Divide
A Spot Rich in Beauty and His
torical Interest.-.Ra
Development,
Continued from first page).
TOP OF THE EARTH.

w g have now reached By gradu-
al ascent the highest point IN the
county, and outside Of the Mesaba
range, the highest plain in the
state. This is what the Indians
years ago named the top Of the
earth. Historically and geogra-
phically, no other point in this
country should be Of more inter
est To the student. Fifty years
ago this was the site Of 4 Hudson
Bay Co.'S trading post, and even
previous to that the camping place
Of wandering red men and trap.
pers. Near here ancient pottery
Of artistic workmanship has been
.unearthed, lending color to the
theory that the prehistoric mound
builders had known this spot. To-
day a little village occupies the
ground, backed by dense forest
Of mixed woods and fronted BY
glistening waters moving IN oppo'
site directions. To the left is the
Little Turtle lake with its outlet
to the south: to the right. Lake
Julia with q northern outlet; be-
tween the two lies Lake Summit.
"a round basin but few rods
across and with no natural outlet.
One can imagine that it stands
there as vigilant sentinel and
with the rod Of Moses divides the
wates that part may seek the Gulf
Of Mexico, and part may JOIN the
frozen waters Of the Hudson Bay.
The whole view is one to enrap-.
ture a savage and leave q scholar
traveller powerless to express his
admiration in words. Even our
patron Beltrami confessed that
this scene impressed him more
than the mighty cathedrals Of
Rome.
A MAN NAMED BELTRAMI.
IA few months ago probably not
| two dozen people il this county
knew that said county takes its
name from an Italian nobleman
by the name Of Beltrami. But
through the efforts Of Auditor
Haner, two volumes Of Beltrami's
writings have been placed IN the
court house library to enlighten
many Of us. Last May the Pro-
NEER gave description Of the au-
thor, his route into this northern
wilderness and his Impressions Of
this point which he-called the
Lake Julian sources Of the Missis-
sippi' and "the Lake Julian sourc-
=
es Of The Bloody (ReD river. AT
that time (1S23) the maps showed
Leach lake TO be the source Of the
Mississippi. Even to this day the
MAJ makers are loath to extend
the source further north than
| Lake Itasca. Many changes have
taken place since Beltrami stood
upon his discovered source. Lake
Julia is the only lake which re
tains the name he gave. Their
Julia flowed both south and north
now it has no southern outlet, al
though it is fifteen feet highe.
taan Little Turtle Lake. Their
the surrounding country was
brushy PLAIN; now it is covere'
with trees with less than hun
dred years growth. Then the re,
men held undisputed sway from
Rainy River to Fort Anthony
Z ! Now the white man has taken ey
] cry homestead III Turtle LAX
township, and around Lake Jul
3 alone dozen homes can be see
4 on the lakeshore.
4 This high ridge not only divide
i the water, but the soil and timbe
y as well. To the west is the MOI
4 way and jack pine; to the east til
n hardwood and clay.soil growth
h to the north, the white pine an
Z tall grasses. Some say that eve
4 the climate makes this a dividin
4 line, but that is warm assertion
VILLAGE HISTORY.
Turtle Lake was the secon
townsite to be plated in Beltran
county. Jas. Cyr laid ont a CO.
IS. ner Of his homestead into tow
4 80