Sword and Pen Part 50

"I desire to say, in justice to Captain Glazier, that, having been a resident of Minnesota for twenty-five years, and quite familiar with the geography of the State, it is my belief that he was the first to discover the true source of the Mississippi River and publish it to the world."

_From Moses E. Clapp, Attorney-General:_

"From such information as I have on the subject, I am convinced that the actual source of the Mississippi had not been recognized prior to the published accounts of the explorations of Captain Willard Glazier."

_From H. W. Childs, a.s.sistant Attorney-General:_

"There is, in my opinion, no reason or ground for disputing Captain Glazier's claim to have located the body of water now undoubtedly regarded as the source of the Mississippi River, and appropriately named LAKE GLAZIER."

_From J. K. Moore, Private Secretary to Governor McGill:_

"From the evidence, it seems clear to me that the actual source of the Mississippi River had never been recognized until Captain Glazier made its discovery in 1881."

_From Gus. H. Beaulieu, Deputy U. S. Marshal, District of Minnesota:_

"Having been born and raised in the State of Minnesota, and a resident of White Earth Indian Reservation, and being familiar with the Indian traditions, I certify that Itasca Lake had never been considered the source of the Mississippi by the best informed Chippewa Indians. Although I had never seen any published maps to the contrary, prior to the expedition of Captain Glazier in 1881, from the best information I have among the Indians, I now regard LAKE GLAZIER as the true source of the Mississippi River. I regard his chief guide, Chenowagesic, as the best authority among the Indians regarding the section of country about the headwaters of the Mississippi, and consider him thoroughly reliable."

_From Ed. W. S. Tingle, St. Paul Globe:_

"After a study of the literature of the subject, I am convinced that the lake to which the name of GLAZIER was given by the Glazier exploring expedition is undoubtedly the true source of the Mississippi, and that Captain Glazier was the first to call general public attention to the fact."

_From Rev. W. T. Chase, Pastor First Baptist Church, Minneapolis:_

"There seems no reasonable doubt that the actual source of the Mississippi had never been recognized until Captain Willard Glazier made its discovery in 1881. Captain Glazier merits the grat.i.tude of every citizen of the United States who is interested in knowing all that is knowable about the great Father of Waters."

_From Ex-Mayor Pillsbury, Minneapolis:_

"From the best information I have been able to obtain, I am satisfied that Captain Willard Glazier was the first person that discovered the true source of the Mississippi."

_From Rev. J. L. Pitner, Pastor Methodist Episcopal Church, Minneapolis:_

"From the evidence I have examined, I am convinced that the real source of the Mississippi was not known prior to 1881. I am quite sure the claims of LAKE GLAZIER are not ill-founded, and that in its deep, cool bosom the Great River takes its rise."

_From John E. Bradley, Superintendent Public Schools, Minneapolis:_

"From such examination as I have been able to give to the problem of the _true source_ of the Mississippi, it seems to be satisfactorily established that LAKE GLAZIER is to be so regarded."

_From Hon. Samuel E. Adams, Member of the Minnesota Historical Society, Monticello:_

"I have no doubt of the correctness of Captain Glazier's statement that he discovered the new source of the Mississippi now bearing his name."

_From John H. Elliott, Secretary Y. M. C. A., Minneapolis:_

"I have no hesitation in stating that I believe LAKE GLAZIER to be the real source of the Mississippi River, and that Captain Glazier's claims are ent.i.tled to respectful and grateful recognition."

_From J. S. McLain, Evening Journal, Minneapolis:_

"I have no reason to question the claim of Captain Glazier to have been the first to correctly map the section of country about the source of the Mississippi, or that the body of water which bears his name is the true source of the Great River."

_From Albert Shaw, Minneapolis Tribune:_

"Unquestionably Captain Glazier may claim the credit of having called public attention to the fact that there is a lake beyond Lake Itasca which is more strictly to be considered as the source of the Mississippi. That the lake will always be called LAKE GLAZIER, and that it will henceforth be spoken of everywhere as the source of the Great River, I have no doubt; nor do I doubt the propriety of the name."

_From Judge John P. Rea, Commander-in-Chief G.A.R., Minneapolis:_

"I have resided in Minnesota eleven years, and always supposed that Lake Itasca was the source of the Mississippi. I never heard the fact questioned until within the past four or five years. From all the evidence I have upon the subject, I am satisfied that LAKE GLAZIER is the true source."

_From G. M. Wing, Secretary North-West Indian Commission, Minneapolis:_

"Concerning the real source of the Mississippi, I would say that the lake which Captain Willard Glazier has located, and which he claims to be the source, is no doubt more properly the true source of this Great River than Lake Itasca. There is no doubt whatever in my mind but that Captain Glazier was the first person to discover that fact, and make the same known to the world; and that fact alone, though it might have been visited before, should ent.i.tle him to the honor of naming the same. I have been over the route traversed by Captain Glazier and party, and find that the map which he has published is a correct delineation of that section."

_From Hon. J. G. Lawrence, Ex-Senator, Wabasha:_

"I believe Captain Glazier is certainly ent.i.tled to the credit of having discovered the true source of the Mississippi in a lake above Lake Itasca, and now named LAKE GLAZIER."

_From Judge L. A. Evans, Ex-Mayor, Saint Cloud_