Sword and Pen Part 54

"H. W. Bates,

"_a.s.sistant Secretary and Editor_."

George W. Melville, the famed Arctic Explorer, writes:

"_Philadelphia, Pennsylvania_

"February 5, 1885.

"Captain Willard Glazier:

"Dear Sir:--Your very interesting paper and map of the discovery of the source of the Mississippi came to hand this morning. Having but a single number of your paper I can form but an inadequate idea of your labor and patience, except by a look at your map, which is a very good one, and shows an immense amount of labor; in fact I am astonished at the amount of work done in so short a s.p.a.ce of time as is shown on your track chart.

"I am gratified at being made the recipient of your favor; and with sentiments of the highest esteem and regard for a worthy brother in the world of science,

"I am, dear sir, very respectfully,

"George W. Melville,

"_Chief Engineer, U. S. Navy_."

_Geographers and Educational Publishers._

Many of the geographers and educational publishers of the country have not only made the necessary changes in their maps of Minnesota, but have expressed their recognition and acceptance of the GLAZIER discovery in letters addressed to friends of the Captain and others interested in arriving at the truth of this important question. Among these may be mentioned:

Rand, McNally & Company, George F. Cram, and George H. Benedict & Company, Chicago; Matthews, Northrup & Company, Buffalo; A. S. Barnes & Company, New York and Chicago; University Publis.h.i.+ng Company, New York; Charles Lubrecht, New York; M. Dripps, New York; W. & A. K. Johnston, Geographers to the Queen, Edinburgh, Scotland; MacMillan & Company, London and New York; Nelson & Sons, New York and Edinburgh, Scotland; g.a.y.l.o.r.d Watson, P. O'Shea and George H. Adams & Company, New York; W. M.

Bradley & Brother, Philadelphia; School Supply Company, John A. Boyle, Boston; J. K. Gill & Company, Portland, Oregon; John Lovell & Son, Montreal, Canada; Map and School Supply Company, Toronto, Canada; F. A.

Brockhaus, Leipsic; A. Hartleben, Wein, Austria; and many others.

The following extracts are from BARNES' COMPLETE GEOGRAPHY by the eminent geographer, Professor James Monteith:

_Page 4. "Record of Recent Discoveries and Events._

"The source of the Mississippi River is LAKE GLAZIER, a small lake from which water flows into Lake Itasca, which until recently was thought to be its source."

_Page 73. "North Central States (Western Section)._

"Recent surveys have shown that LAKE GLAZIER is about seven feet higher than Lake Itasca, into which the former discharges its water; and it is now recognized as the source of the Mississippi River."

_"Maury's Manual of Geography, University Publis.h.i.+ng Company, New York:_

"Page 56. Minnesota is crossed by the ridge or 'Height of Land'

which separates the Valley of the Mississippi from the northern slope of the Great Central Plain. On this elevation, 1,600 feet above the sea, both the Mississippi and the Red River of the North take their rise, the one flowing south and the other north. The crest of the 'Height of Land' is crowned with lakes of clear water.

LAKE GLAZIER, one of these, is the source of the Mississippi...."

_From Herr F. A. Brockhaus, Geographer and Publisher of Leipsic, Germany:_

"I shall not fail to recognize and call public attention to your important discovery of the True Head of your Great River."

_From Professor J. W. Redway, of Philadelphia, a well-known geographer and scientist:_

"_Philadelphia_, September 9, 1887.

"Captain Willard Glazier:

"_My Dear Sir:_-- ... You will have the satisfaction of knowing that by your exertions and enterprise an error of more than fifty years standing has been made apparent. The world owes you a debt for determining an important question in geography.

"Sincerely yours,

"J. W. Redway."

_From the Messrs. Harper & Brothers, New York:_

"Recent exploration and survey establish the fact that Lake Glazier has the best claim to the distinction of standing at the head of the Father of Waters. School Geographies generally are being corrected to show it."

_From Rand, McNally & Company, Map-makers and Publishers, Chicago:_

"As to the source of the Mississippi, we gave it considerable attention in preparing our new map of Minnesota, and finally fixed it as LAKE GLAZIER. This, we consider, has the best claim."

_From George F. Cram, Map and Atlas Publisher, Chicago:_

"I mail you to-day a copy of the corrected map of Minnesota, showing LAKE GLAZIER as the source of the Mississippi."

_From Matthews, Northrup & Company, Art Printers, Buffalo, New York:_

"We regard LAKE GLAZIER as the true source of the Mississippi, and are so showing it on all maps, etc., issued by us."