THE NORTHERN PACIFIC ROUTE, 
49 
The outwash dat with its silty soil is well adapted to the raising 
of flax, wheat, oats, and barley and supports a thriving farming com- 
munity, the center of which is McKenzie, the junc- 
McKenzie. 
Elevation 1,725 feet. 
Population 191.* 
St. F aul 427 miles. 
tion point of a branch line of railway running south 
to Linton, 45 miles distant. 
railway fallows down Apple Creek to Missouri River. 
West of McKenzie the 
The width of the Apple Creek valley, which is much 
greater than that of even larger 
clearly that at some time in the 
streams in the vicinity, indicates 
past this stream must have been 
= United States Army who had volun- 
their services, two French water 
meee an interpreter and hunter, a black 
servant belonging to Capt. Clark, and a 
corporal, six soldiers, and nine water men 
who were to accompany the party as far 
as the Mandan villages. 
The party finally embarked on the mo- 
gather information on a great variety of 
subjects, including ‘‘the soil and face of 
the country, its growth and vegetable 
productions; the animals of the country, 
ially those not reese in the 
United States; the mineral productions 
of every kind, but more particularly 
metals, limestone, pit coal, pe, sa- 
lines, and mineral waters *; vol- 
canic appearances; and climate.’’ They 
were particularly advised to cultivate 
friendly relations with the Indians and 
to make exhaustive notes regarding their 
habits and customs, their family and 
tribal relations, and the extent and lim- 
its of their territoria 
and the au- 
the North Dakota region. By October 26 
miles below the mouth of Knife River 
and 50 miles or so above the present town 
of Bismarck. Here they built a stockade 
which they called Fort Mandan, after the 
tribe of ‘Indians inhabitin, g this part of 
the country. 
The the winter in procuring 
supplies for the camp, in friendly i inter- 
course with the Indians, and in visiting 
95558 °—Bull, 611—15——4 
the scattered French and English traders 
who were dealing with the Indians on 
both sides of the Canadian line. On 
April 7, 1805, the permanent party, which 
had b i 
oman), again set out on their jour- 
ney up the great river. They were soon 
beyond the range of the fur trader and 
they saw no white man until they re- 
turned to this region the following year. 
All went well until they came to the 
lumbia, but, although they had fairly 
information from the Indians re- 
garding the oo of the Missouri, 
they were completely at sea regarding the 
source of the pee 8 For this reason 
they desired very much to find Indian 
Sacajawea, a member of the Snake tribe, 
hoped that she might see some of her 
people inhabiting the mountain region 
at the head of the Missouri and procure 
from them the necessary information and 
assistan 
ce. 
Above Great Falls the river swings far 
to the west, approaching the mountains, 
of Indians, but none could be found. To To 
matter worse, t here 
