the lij'drograpliic and other features of the Itasca basin, authorized by 
law to be set apart as a public state park, gained from a thorough 
physical knowledge of the same, to the end that facts regarding the 
ultimate source of the Mississippi river may be estal)lished and pub- 
lished for the benefit of the people of this state. I therefore request 
you to report to this department any facts in j^our possession which may 
])e deemed pertinent to this question whicli lias conn- to your knowledge 
as commissioner or otherwise. 
Yours respectfully. 
William K. Mekuiam. 
Gort-riior. 
THE COMMISSION Kirs KEPORT. 
State of Minnksota. Itasca State Park. 
COM.MISSIONKKS OkKK'K. 
St. Pail. Minn.. Au>i-. 1:5. IS'.tl. 
Jlis K.ici:lh:nci/. II illiam I'. Jf( iridiii . (JiircriKir of Jfiniicoitti, 
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
favor of the third instant. re([uestiM<£ me to report to your de- 
partment any facts in my possession, as commissioner of tlie 
Ttasca State Park, or otherwise, descriptixc of the liydroi>;r:ii»liic 
i\iid other features of the Itasca Itasin. autliorized by hiw to l>e 
set apart as a i)ul»lic park, to the end that facts regardinu; the 
ultimate source of the Mississijipi river may Ite established and 
l)uiilishe<l. 
During the year ISSq. as a special commissioner of the .^Iinne- 
sota Historical Society, a co-oidinate branch of the State govern- 
ment. I ma(h' a detailed hydrographic survey of the source of 
our ureat river, and formulate<l an exhaustive report thereon, 
whicli has not as yet been published. 
From the field notes then takt'ii. the correspoiKh-iice. aii<l all 
examinations and researches made. I lia\c the honor to repoit the 
following facts foi- tlie u>e (d" the executive departnii'iit of Miii- 
nesotti. 
The drainage liasiii of the Mississippi ri\«'r extends from the 
gulf of .Mexico, at the mouth of the river, to an idtimati' limit 
;ibove and beyond Itasca lake in this stat.'. This gri'at iiasiii. 
m<ire than 1 , (Kill. (Kill s(piai-e miles in extent, is bordered on the 
«'ast by the Alleghany and other ranges, and on the west by the 
Uockv mountains, and contains about 1 (Ml. (Mid rivers and streauis. 
