The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-12-17
MERRILL BOOK
LAUDS REGION
Arrowhead Country Comes In
for Large Share of Praise
In Current Volume.

The lakes Of the Arrowhead, all kinds
sizes and aSSortmentS in all stages OF
development, thousands of them, form
the greatest charm and attraction of
Minnesota'S Arrowhead country, ac-
cording 70 DR.. James Merrill, president
emeritus of the Superior State Teach
ers' College.
DR. Merrill has published a limited
edition Of his book entitled, The
Wonderland Of Lake Superior and IN
his work he has included many COM
plimenta-y chapters on the Arrowhead
and also on the early history Of the
mining section He stated that the
block was written particularly fol
people who i've in the area encompaSSed
IN the volume and for those who visit
Lake Superior and the Arrowhead.
1T IS intended TO open the eyes Of
the native lover TO the unique forma-
tons that in the slow process Of evol-
ution have gradually evolved in this
wonderland region" he said, and to
lead all 10 appreciate this unusual array
Of scenic attractions"
Having made geology a life's study,
Dr.. Merrill, recently retired geology
professor at the college, his observations
on the geological deductions of the for
nation Of the lakes IN the Arrowhead
are interesting.
Most Of the lakes N the Arrowhead
country are in glacial drift or in old
stream beds that have been partially
filled and cut off by deposits from
glaciers" he declared. Pointing TO in
dications that the lake region Of nor
them Minnesota has been visited a
number Of times by moving ice sheets,
he said 1t was easy TO recognize the
complexity Of the drift masses and the
procession Of lakes that have come and
gone"
"Of the lakes Of previous glacial ad-
vances We know but little" Dr.. Merrill
asserted, but It is reasonable 10 sup
pose from what We observe IN older drift |
areas in Illinois and elsewhere that I!
they were similar in number and kind |
70 those Of recent drift areas and that |
they filled up as peat boys or that they |
were drained by streams leaving beds |
Of auuyium precisely as such lakes are
now being destroyed. Many Of the |
lakes are deep, clear, cold, bright, filled /
with sparkling water, surrounded by
sandy beaches and colorfd forests.
This type of lake is the charm OF the
Arrowhead.
Others Of the lakes are surrounded |
by beaches Of clean sand on banks Of
volcanic rocks, while some are deeply
set in glacial drift with grassy hill
sides sloping down to the water.
Around them all is the northern IN
broken forest Of pine, spruce, birch, as
pen, tamarack and cedar. In many
places these lakes are connected by
streams which give them the semblance
Of a new drainage system and carry
their surplus waters to Lake Superior
with rapids, waterfalls and reaches Of
quiet water. There are many places
where a short portage Of canoe or row.
boat viii bring the ADVENTURE into
new stream and new scenery. At Ger
tain places the portageS are over the
watershed Of the St Lawrence river
and the drainage changes from the
waters Of Lake Superior to those Of
Hudson bay"
ReVerting to the geological relation
ship Of the region to its scenic attrac-
tons Dr.. Merrill said:
+As is well known, this land is part
Of the Canadian Shield and is the Oldest
land in the United States, part of the
original land mass Of North America
The name Arrowhead was given it be-
cause Of the shape of the land, but it is
also appropriate because Of its being
the home Of the Indian before the ad-
vent Of the white man. The region
proper forming the Arrowhead runs
from the north shore Of Lake Superior
TO Canada and from point east Of
Lake Itasca, the source Of the Mis-
SiSsippi river, 10 Grand Portage Being
Of an early great age it IS near the
original crust Of the earth. Much Of tie
surface is composed mainly Of stratified
rocks formed in the primeTaI ocean
Il