V. RECOGNITION.
Reading edition
The discovery and final location of the source of the Great River of the North American Continent by Captain Glazier has received general recognition in this country and in Europe, and our aim to place before the reader of this volume, material to assist him in forming his judgment on the validity of the author's claim, would not be attained if we omitted to include in these addenda the following evidence, the nature and weight of which we think should carry conviction to the mind of every impartial critic.
A report of the discovery was duly sent to Hon. Charles P. Daly, President of the American Geographical Society, New York, and by him forwarded to the Editor of the New York Herald, and published by that paper, accompanied by a map of the region explored, showing the true source of the Mississippi.
A report was also sent to the Royal Geographical Society, London, England, and the following courteous reply received:
"Royal Geographical Society,
"London, January 12, 1885.
"Captain Willard Glazier, New York, U. S. A.
"Dear Sir:—We owe you an apology for delaying so long communicating with you on the subject of your interesting letter and its accompanying map; a delay caused by the long summer vacation of our council, which commenced a little before the arrival of your letter.
"I am happy to be able to send you a copy of the January number of the Proceedings of our Society, containing your letter and map, and trust you will find no error has crept in.
"Your discovery was considered a distinct addition to our knowledge of the geography of the Mississippi basin, and well worthy of publication by the Society, and I am directed to thank you for having communicated this brief account of it to us.
"Your obedient servant,
"H. W. Bates,
"Assistant 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 space 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 Publishing 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; Gaylord 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 Publishing 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."
From Messrs. Cowperthwait & Company, Philadelphia.
"We have added Lake Glazier to our School Maps as the source of the Mississippi."
From E. A. Lawrence, University Publishing Company, New York:
"We think Lake Glazier is important enough to outrank Itasca as the source of the Mississippi."
From W. M. Bradley & Brother, Philadelphia:
"Lake Glazier appears on our large Atlas of the World, and on Mitchell's Atlas, as the true source of the Mississippi."
From John Lovell & Son, Educational Publishers, Montreal:
"The collection of testimonials from leading citizens of Minnesota, and others, tells convincingly in Captain Glazier's favor."
From MacMillan & Company, London and New York:
"Pray accept our very cordial thanks for your courtesy in sending us the map of the true source of the Mississippi. We are forwarding it on to our London house, who will gladly avail themselves of the information it conveys."
From Gaylord Watson, Map and Chart Publisher, New York:
"I shall show Lake Glazier as the source of the Mississippi on my maps."
From P. O'Shea, Catholic Publisher, New York:
"I have come to the conclusion that Lake Glazier is the true source of the Mississippi, and intend to give it as the source in the new editions of my geographies."
From Geo. H. Adams & Son, Map Publishers, New York:
"We recognize Lake Glazier as the True Source of the Mississippi River, and believe that Captain Glazier's claim to its discovery is now admitted by all the leading Map Publishers of the country."
From the Map and School Supply Company, Toronto:
"We consider Lake Glazier the source of the Mississippi River, and are having it appear on all our latest maps as such."
From Captain A. N. Husted, Professor of Mathematics, State Normal School, Albany, New York:
"Captain Willard Glazier:
"My Dear Sir:—I have been much interested in your trip to the beginning of the Father of Waters, and feel that you have contributed a valuable item to the great volume of geographical knowledge."
From Colonel George Soulé, President of Soulé, College, New Orleans:
"I recognize the correctness of Captain Glazier's claim, and shall teach that the source of the Mississippi is Lake Glazier."
From Rev. L. Abernethy, A. M., D. D., President of Rutherford College, North Carolina:
"I am satisfied that Lake Glazier is the true source of the Mississippi and that Captain Glazier is entitled to the honor of its discovery."
From J. L. Smith, Map Publisher, Philadelphia:
"Having given considerable attention to the merits of the claim presented by Captain Willard Glazier to have definitely located the source of the Mississippi, I am of the opinion that the lake to the south of Itasca should be recognized as the primal reservoir or true fountain-head of that river, and that Captain Glazier is entitled to the credit of having been the first to discover this fact and call public attention to it."
From G. H. Laughlin, A. M., Ph. D., President of Hiram College, Ohio:
"Captain Glazier has rendered an invaluable service to the science of geography. I am glad that the school geographies are being corrected so as to indicate Lake Glazier as the source of the Father of Waters."
From the firm of W. & A. K. Johnston, of Edinburgh, Scotland, Geographers and Engravers to the Queen:
"You have the satisfaction of having done a great work in settling the vexed question of the source of your mighty river. For this, all interested in geography are indebted to you."
From Charles Lubrecht, Map Publisher, New York:
"I shall show Lake Glazier as the source of the Mississippi River in all future editions of my Maps."
From M. Dripps, Map Publisher, New York:
"I will avail myself of Captain Glazier's discovery by showing the True Source of the Mississippi on future editions of my maps of the United States."
From George H. Benedict & Co., Map, Wood and Photo-Engravers, Chicago:
"Lake Glazier is now acknowledged to be the True Source of the Mississippi, and in the course of time will appear as such on all maps."
From John S. Kendall, President of the National School Furnishing Company of Chicago:
"Chicago, October 6, 1887.
"Captain Willard Glazier:
"Dear Sir:—Your book 'Down the Great River' has been received and read with interest. I am glad to see the entire narrative in book form. There is no doubt about your expedition having added largely to our rather limited stock of information regarding the country around the headwaters of the Great River. I deem it a graceful and fitting compliment to give your name to the lake south of Itasca.
"Thanking you for the book, which I have placed in my library.
"Yours very respectfully,
"John S. Kendall."
From Frederick Warne & Company, Publishers, London:
"Pray accept our very cordial thanks. The alteration in the source of your great river has been noted, and we shall gladly avail ourselves of the information to make the correction in our atlases."
From Thos. Nelson & Sons, Edinburgh and New York:
"The correction as to the True Source of the Mississippi will be made as opportunity occurs, when issuing new editions of our publications."
From Herr A. Hartleben, one of the leading Publishers of Germany:
"I congratulate Captain Glazier on his important discovery of the source of the Mississippi River, and shall have great pleasure in bringing the subject to the notice of our Geographical Society."
From Appleton's Annual Encyclopedia—1885:
"Lake Itasca, which has been distinguished as the head of the Mississippi for fifty years, must, it seems, yield that distinction to a smaller lake about a mile and a half in length by a mile in width, lying further south, discovered by Captain Willard Glazier in, 1881, and named for him 'Lake Glazier.'"
From American Supplement to the Encyclopedia Britannica:
"The Mississippi has its source in Lake Glazier, south of Lake Itasca, Minnesota, 47° 34' N. lat, 95° 2' W. long. The greatest width of this lake is a mile and a half, and it is deeper than Itasca, with which it is connected by a shallow stream about six feet wide."