30-I- 
//" Aliniurilii ( I ml txi tst , 
Nov.'iiiliiM. IS'H 
I'lif (lisc.iVfiT of \\\\< liil<i' ami creek wjis acioiu|ilislie<l in tlie I'nllow- 
ini; inanner: 
•lean N. Is'icollel. in !><:>(!, lonud what is now i;ii< laivc, lo he a part uf 
Itasca lake, as slunvn by his map now of record at tlie city oT Washing- 
ton, from which is talien the followint;-: 
-*1 ^ 
^<.^'^'%. 
xi( (»i.li;t s soruc E or tiik .mississipim. tiia( ed kkum oi-kk iai. 1!Ecoki»s 
AT THE CITY OK WASMIXCiTON. 
After tlie h)weriu,!>- of the river bed at the north end of lake Itasca 
since 18:;(i, Klk lake was left as waters gathered at one side, one foot 
higlierthan lake Itasca, and after tlie process of nature had sejjarated 
the two liodies of water and formed a short creek, of no great importance, 
between the two, Mr. Julius Chambers was the first to discover Elk lake 
and creek, and he declared it to be "The Source" of the Mississippi, July 
n, 1875, and to him must be awarded whatever honor is due therefor. 
His map, first published by Ivison, IMakeman, Tajior & Co., is here- 
with rejiroduced, p. ^'^)~^. 
The re]>ort made to the Minnesota Historical Society by its commis- 
sioner was referred Itack for the purpose of having the same properly ed- 
ited for publication, and the same isnot yet ))ublislied. When pul)lished, 
as a geographical and historical record, it will contain about forty-three 
chapters, the last three of which are yet to be sui)plied, descriptive of 
The formation of the State J'ark. and botanical and other observations. 
The fact that formerly one large lake, witii bays and islands and 
l)eaches, existe<l where now is found the several lakes at the Itasca basin, 
is bej'oud the inference of a mere conjecture, and to future explorers 
and geologists must be left the privilege and opportunity to locate its 
boundaries and determine its former importance: and until some further 
or more definite action, it has been designated lake I'pham by Prof. 
<;eo. 15. Aiton and J. \'. ibower. 
