20 “GUIDEBOOK OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. 
amount of it was used in the new State capitol. The granite is hard 
and resistant, forming the rapids in the river and the rough topog- 
raphy that marks the valley for some distance. 
The town of St. Cloud (see sheet 2, p. 26) lies on the opposite side 
of the river from the railway, so that the traveler can see only the 
station and a few houses. A rapid in the river near 
St. Cloud. this place is utilized to produce power for a large 
oe milling industry. Here the main line of the Great 
St. Paul 76 miles. | Northern Railway crosses the river, but a branch of 
that road leading from St. Cloud to Duluth is crossed 
by the Northern Pacific train a short distance beyond the station. 
At Sauk Rapids the low granite and drift hills that border the» 
valley on the right (east) approach so close to the river that there is 
room only for a few streets and the railway between 
Sauk Rapids. the hills and the river. Masses of granite can be seen 
ee in the river channel and the resistance of this rock 
ul77miles. has produced the rapids at this place. Rock of the 
same kind is quarried in the bluffs some distance 
back from the river and is brought to the main line over a short 
spur for shipment. Above the rapids the river flows quietly between 
low wooded banks, or rather in a slight depression in the bottom of 
the broad valley. 
Although the hills are less precipitous beyond Sauk Rapids, the 
presence of granite in the vicinity of Watab station is attested by 
great bowlders of this material that were evidently picked up by 
the glacier and distributed along the valley, and also by old quarries 
that are faintly discernible on the left (west). 
The traveler is now approaching the place where Pike’s party 
wintered in 1805-6 on their memorable trip to the source of the 
Mississippi." 
As soon as Louisiana had been ac- The country through which Pike trav- 
quired from France by the treaty signed | eled was at that time fairly well known, 
at Paris on April 30, 1803, President | but the earlier explorations had been 
Jefferson took steps to have the newly | made by French and English adven- 
acquired country thoroughly explored. | turers who were using every means to 
He personally planned the expedition to | further the interests of their respective 
the Pacific coast which was conducted | Governments. It had now become the 
by Lewis and Clark (see p. 47) in 1804- | property of the United States, and 
1806 and other expeditions by Lieut. | Jefferson wanted first-hand information 
Zebulon M. Pike to the headwaters of | not only regarding the geography of the 
the Mississippi and to the great South- | country but also regarding the attitude 
west. Pike’s search for the source of the | taken toward the new owner by the Indian 
Mississippi took him over ground with | tribes and the trappers and traders who 
familiar, and an account of the trip may Pike left St. Louis on August 9, 1805, 
be of interest. with 1 sergeant, 2 corporals, and 17 pri- 
