324 The American Geologist. November, i895 
Mississippi river, and he has the testimony of his 14 eouipanions, both 
joint and individual, supporting him in his claim. As the case is pre- 
sented by him he makes a strong showing and one that will be apt to 
influence geographers in his favor. 
It seems the essential points at issue are: 
1. Is the Nicollet creek longer or shorter than the newly described 
creek "Excelsior," which feeds lake "Glazier?" 
2. Can Glazier be considered the discoverer of the lake which he has 
named after himself? 
In respect to the first, it should be stated that, as it now appears, 
neither Schoolcraft, nor Nicollet, nor Chambei's ever saw the creek that 
enters Itasca lake from Elk lake (Glazier lake). Glazier seems to be 
correct in making that claim. It is overgrown with rushes at its mouth, 
and its debouchure is not at the head of the main valley. Nicollet creek 
is so plainly that which drains the principal valley that the existence of 
another creek uniting with this valley at a mile or so further northeast 
was not suspected and has remained unknown to geographers. This 
superiority of the Nicollet creek as the drainage course of the main val- 
ley is evidenced in the difference in size of the two creeks. Glazier him- 
self states that the Nicollet creek at its mouth is 10 feet wide and 2^^ 
feet deep. The creek that drains the Elk Lake valley is stated by him 
to be 7 feet wide and 3 feet deep, by which it appears, on his own state- 
ment, that nearly 20 per cent, more water would be discharged by the 
Nicollet creek than by the creek that drains Elk lake. This is on the 
supposition that they have the same velocity, but judging from the 
descriptions the Nicollet creek is much more rapid than the Elk Lake 
creek, and may reasonably Vje supposed to carry twice as much water. 
The gathering ground of the waters that feed Elk lake and enter 
Itasca lake by way of the outlet of Elk lake is stated by Glazier to ex- 
tend southward from Itasca lake 14,106 feet. The same extension for 
the waters issuing by way of Nicollet creek is given by Glazier at 7,307 
feet. Thus the gi-eater creek has, by his showing, the smaller valley 
and the shorter course, and the less importance as a tributary of the 
Mississippi. It seems questionable whether, whatever the relative im- 
portance of these creeks, a creek having in August a width of 10 feet 
and a depth of 2lo feet, could be said to extend, for its source and sup- 
ply, only to the distance of a mile and three-eights from its debouchure. 
If it there be found issuing from a "spring" it would be the ijrompting 
of a truly scientific mind, in pursuit of the source of the Mississippi, to 
look a little further. If on further search he should find a stream dis- 
appearing, at a short distance up the valley, by entering into subterra- 
nean passages, it would be almost impossible for him not to assign that 
as the source of the water issuing at the "spiring." 
It should also be stated, in respect to the first of the considerations 
mentioned, that such has been found to be the case, by more than one 
observer who has described the waters of Nicollet valley. Nicollet creek 
runs through a succession of small lakes, marshes and subtenanean, at 
least non-visible, passages, which have been desci ibed as constituting 
