Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-05-14
MINNESOTA'S STORY IS TOLD
BY E. M LEHNERTs, GENERAL.
, EXTENTION DIVISION UNI
VERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Natural Resources

among the naLural resources WHICH
play an important part in the devel-
opment Of states and nations are posi-
tion, climate, soil, mineral treasure,
forests, waterways and waterpower.
Minnesota is rich in all of these.
Minnesota lies in the very heart Of
the continent. This gives it the ad-
vantage Of central position. It lies
near the middle Of the great lowland
plain which extends from the Arctic
ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. This
gives it the advantage OF freedom
from barriers, facilitating the con-
struction of roads and railroads in all
directions. It occupies the crest of
the non-mountainous part Of North
America, at the headwaters of three
great river systems, the Mississippi,
the St. Lawrence, and the Hudson
Bay. This gives it the advantage Of
two of the worlds most important in
land waterways, the Mississippi and
the Great Lakes. All Of these advan-
and cost Of transportation and to IA
trial development.
Minnesota lies in reg ion of fertile
soils, favorable climate, bountiful
iron mines. Inexhaustible quarries and
clay beds furnish unexcelled building
materials. Ten thousand lakes and
almost countless streams add to the
scenic beauty or contribute valuable
Waterfalls and waterpowers. All Of
these great gifts Of nature encourage
industry and commerce and form a
very favorable foundation for the fu-
ture growth and development of the
state.
Measured by latitude and longitude,
Minnesota lies between the parallels
43 degrees 80 minutes and 40 degrees
% minutes 5O.28 seconds, north lati.
tude and the meridians 80 degrees "a
minutes and 81 degrees IL minutes
west longitude. It should be noted,
however, that the extreme eastern
boundary of the state, where it bor-
ders Michigan in Lake Superior, is 80
| degrees 4 minutes west longitude. The
! extreme northern projection into the
Lake Of the Woods was occasioned Dy
lack of geographical knowledge on
the part of the American and British
| commissioners negotiating the treaties
of 1888 and 1918. This irregularity in
the northern boundary, extending
about 271a miles beyond the 49th par
allel, gives Minnesota the distinction
of being the most nothern state in
! the Union.
For purposes of comparison Of posi-
tion and climate, it is interesting to
note that Salem (Oregon), Montreal,
Venice and Harbin (Manchuria1, are
approximately in the latitude of St..
Paul and Minneapolis, 45 degrees
north; that Duluth and Vienna (Aus-
! tria) are on the same parallel; that
! International Falls and Paris are in
the same latitude; and that the mouth
Of the Minnesota river and the mouth
| of the Danube river are equally dis
| tant from the equator.
The total area of Minnesota is ST.
! 1876 square miles. This includes 80,-
s5S square miles of land, 1924 square
miles of lakes and streams, and {, ,514
square miles Of Lake Superior lying
within the boundary of the state.
Minnesota ranks tenth in area
(thirteenth in land area) among the
states. Idaho and Utah are nearly as
large. The combined area of the six
New England states together with
New JERSEY and Maryland is somewhat
less, and the combined area of Eng
land, Scotland and Wales is somewhat
more than that of Minnesota.
| The greatest length Of the state,
measured from its most northern point
in the Lake Of the Woods, southwark
to the Iowa boundary is 408 miles. Its
| greatest width, measured from St.
Vincent to Pigeon Point, ih 357 miles,
while across it's narrowest portions, as
from Hasting or Saltwater westward
to the Dakota boundary, the distance
is 178 miles.
Although Minnesota occupies crest
Of the non-mountainous part Of the
continent and forms the divide for
three great river systems, the average
elevation Of the state is only 1850
feet. The average for the United
States is $500 feet. In comparison
with the other states, therefore, Min
| nesota's altitude is favorably low.
| The highest point in the state is one
Of the Misquah hills, near the center
| Of Cook county, 1890 feet above the
sea; the lowest land in the state is
the shore Of Lake Superior, 602 feet
| above the level Of the sea. Thus, the
highest and lowest points are in the
same part Of the state and only about
fifty miles apart.
For the purpose of storing surplus
waters in time Of food, six reservoirs
have been constructed on the head
| waters of the Mississippi. The total
storage capacity of these reservoirs
is over 9o,000,o0o cubie feet; but, at
present, the average annual storage is
about half of this amount. The sur
plus water is gradually set free as it
is needed to deepen the river for nav
igation or to supply more even flow
for power. The total storage is suf-
fcient to raise the level Of the river
at st. Paul from one to two feet above
former low water stages for period
Of ninety days each summer.
The most northern Of these reser-
voirs is Lake Winnibigoshish whose
level can be raised six feet by the dam
across its outlet. Next is Leech Lake
whose waters can be deepened four
feet by similar dam. Then comes
Pokegema Lake which can be deepen
ed four feet by the dam at Pokegema
Falls, four miles above Grand Rapids.