Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-03-26
Willamette q y allanst-osr River a.l


@ " IL xans.9 ! = n'a's =
Friday. 0y.sos;ss sxr, !, baa,9 l. % article o.
this subject from the psa u j. Quiss
ThotAtou, which 10 eadsss BY vest Kindly
saying that his ismarks are nads with ths
bsst intentions, and hs hopes they will
not give offence 10 those who, is bad taste,
and without authority, eall The river VIII.
lamette. "F'' "'''' y 'R2il' 'u'S ~ ras
4 Mr.. Editor, I an sss who believes thai
the true meme oc ths river i = Willamette, 4
derived from the French, meaning Little
William, or Little Williams Rivor. ]
would spell it Willanst, bseauss the
word would moan the asme, the sound
would not be changed, and the termina.
ton would accord with our language. ]
think to call IL the Wallamet 10. without
authority, and in bad taste, though the
question Of taste is something which each
one must determine for himself. 49,.
Rivers aud countries derive their names
from geographers or historians who have
described them; from first settlers who
have given them name which is general.
ly accepted or used or, lastly, names
are sometimes given by legislative anact.
ment.
While I do not belong to the class who
affect Indian names, that some memento
may be preserved of poor Lo, whose race
is fast dying out; yet / have no objection
to calling rivers or places by their Indian
names, If they have any such name, and
the same is euphonions, expressive and
distinctive, or not liable to create confu.
sion from its similarity to tho names Of
other rivers or places. So far rs Wal.
lanet is concerned I know Of no good au.
thority for considering it an Indian name
or an Indian word. It is claimed to be
such. Willadvocates tell us what particular
tribe it belongs to, and what is its signi6-
cation. The authority and not mere as.
sertion, is wanted for its Indian origin,
and something more than Imagination OF
fancy for its gu;6cation? The indians
10 this part of the, country were devided
into small tribe, occupying limited terrific
ry, and would not be likely 10 have com.
mon name for river which 10 its course
passed through . number Of tribes not
speaking common language. Lewis and
Clark speak Of the river below the falls a.
being called the Multnomah by the Indi
ans. Capt. Clark passed up Il probably
to near the present site of Portland
Whether the name Multnomah i o com.
pound of two Latin words, which would
give it the Specification Of the "many.
named" river, or whether tho Resemblance
to the compound Latin word is merely nc.
cidcntal, and the namc Multnomah is Of
Indian origin, is immaterial. If an Indian
word, its signifcation is lost. No part Of
the river proper is now called BY that
1t was called tho Willamette or Villa
met by the early writer's, who mentioned
it, or by nearly all Of them, aud BY tho
first settlers upon its banks. issi 4 { q,ane
In 1884 and 1885, the Canadian settlers
upon the river, who were Catholics, and
probably all speaking Canadian French
petitioned the Bishop at Red River to send
them Priest for their settlements on the
/" Willamette" River. So also in 1888.
This we learn from published letters Of
bishop Thomas Norbert, in reply TO their
petitions, one bearing date in February,
1885, and the other in July, 1888. .ea
Sir George Simpson, Governor Of the
Hudson Bay Co., who vas - we'll posted
As any man upon this coast, in 4 letter I'D.
dressed to the Bishop Of Quebec, dated
February II, 1888, speaks Of the river q
the "Willamette. /" >,
Wilkes, Of the american Exploring
Expedition of lS4l. speaks Of, and maps
the river as the WillAmetts." aa = 4
Robert Greenhow, the learned Librarian
Of Congress, who published a American
history, and description Of Oregspin l847,
speaks or it as +" Willamct." = hi %
DR.. Swiss, tho English histriographer
Who about the same time pablished 1t, do
scription and history Of the country, not
only calls the river the, :" Willamette, z
but has ID oonueetion with his book, pub
lished cspy Of Wilkes map, and Of one
which parpott. to bs older, ia which the
river 10 mapped a. the /" Willamette"
The Rev. Samuel Parker, Who came 70
this country in 1855, aud 1855, with Dr..
Whitman, Is = pioneer Of the Presbyterian
Mission, 10 his work Published. in 1888,
called the river the /" Willamette" s
Even j. Quinn Thosntoa, author of shs
letter in the Orsyoaias, Published = work
in l847 or 8, / think, with Z map He
speaks of the river - the /" Willamstte, :
and 50 makes it On bis map. Is i not
likely that be then knew - much shout
What the early settlers called the river =
be know doesl
Rev. Gustavus Hines also published :
work ID which 10 styles the river the
!" Willamotte.'' 81 sssf ss 'sas 9as .A708 /
I have not time to refer 70 oil that has
been written by early settlers or historians
to sustain my position, for Of tho making
Of books there il no end. t,ilaaF b /
5 I nov refer toiths early Official action OF
the frat setslsrs upon tho riysr. Nearly
every man participated II The public meet
ing, aud thersfose TIA records are good en-
thority upon the aamss in uas amosg tAoul
ct the time. a
Turning 10 the Oregoa Archives, ~