284 A Recent Visit to Lake Itasca — Upham. 



From whatever point we consider these structures, they are 

 highly curious and interesting and at some time when more infor- 

 mation is available, a more definite theory of their origin may be 

 possible. At present they remain something of a mystery in spite 

 of their close relation to things about which we think we have 

 knowledge. 



October 8, 1889. 



[Paper HH.-] 

 A RECENT VISIT TO LAKE ITASCA. — By Warren Upham. 



Far in the northern forest of Minnesota, about a hundred and 

 ninety miles north-northwest from Minneapolis and St. Paul, there 

 lies a little lake which probably has become known, at least by 

 name, to as many people throughout all civilized lands, as any lake 

 of the whole world. Its pre-eminence comes from its being the 

 head of the great river Mississippi, which first flows out from it 

 fourteen miles northward, more nearly thirty miles by the meander- 

 ing course of the river, and thence flows to the east through a 

 succession of small and large lakes, and afterward to the south 

 through the central part of this state and along its southeast 

 boundary and onward thousands of miles to the Gulf. In size,. 

 Itasca belongs to the middle class of the ten thousand lakes and 

 lakelets of Minnesota, its length from south to north being a little 

 more than three miles, with a branch extending from its center 

 about two miles to the east and southeast. It thus consists o£ 

 three parts, which are called its Southwest, Southeast and North 

 arms; and the width of each of these varies from about a quarter 

 to a half of a mile. Its water is deep and clear, having a maxi- 

 mum depth, according to soundings by Mr. J. V. Brower, of about 

 eighty feet in the Southeast arm, while the main lake, consisting 

 of the Southwest and North arms, is found by him to be shallow 

 at each end, thence gradually deepening to a maximum of about 

 forty feet between Schoolcraft island and Bear point, which pro- 

 jects into the lake from the north at the junction of the Southeast 

 arm. Its shores are mainly well wooded, and rise steeply from 

 the water's edge, excepting small tracts of bog or tamarack swamps, 

 through which most of the tributaries of Itasca enter the lake. 



The first expedition seeking to reach the head of the Missis- 

 sippi was that of General Cass in 1820, penetrating the northern 



