New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-22
h hhs ~ o Pe'i' oDcron Trtania
NAMES IL GEOGRAPHY.

Professor f. V. Hayden delivereda rapid essay upon
the confusion that arises from duplicate geographical
names. The sources Of names In this country for prom
ncnt geographical objects are comparatively limited
wherever Indian names It is better so far
possible, retain them. Trappers and traders have
also contributed many names, OF when portion may
De worth preserving Military forces stationed at dis
ant posts have found IL necessary confer upon
many geographical features OF the country near their
routes and stations 10 all the foregOng there has been
a very large addition conferred by the numerous sur
yeyiug expeditions at the West. There has been no
IN seectng names, aud II frequently has hap
pencd that two or three designations nave thus Deem
conferred object The tendency Is 10 honor some
body connected with the survey. the heads Of the
departments or the friends ot the expedtOn ana as
result the duplication OF these personal names Is ire
qucnt. Peaks and rivers aro apt 10 get the names Of
high officials not year passes when some mountain 10
not thus distinguished, and the result Is tnat tue same
name very frequently repeated. There Is still greater
duplication OF what may Oe called descrlptyo NAMES
for instance, pyramid Peal" and Muddy Mountain"
are each designations OF eight or ten different objects
is not easy to devise means for arresng tins evil
Perhaps the object might DO effected II general map
Issued by some department OF the Government,
containing names b. gwen without fear or favor ana
excluding duplicates; or the result could DO attained
under a new, general, and authoritative survey OF the
country. table was read when showed some
thing OF the extraordinary duplication IN the
Colorado the name q Crooked Creek" appears twelve
times disappointment Creek" has been
peated Professor GuyOt, commenting upon this essay,
said that he had found the difficulty this side OF
tho Mississippi. In the Atlantic ranges there are
Round Tops" and Bald Mountains" by the score.
Indian cannot In general he substituted The In
dams did not dwell In the mountains and rarely went
names gwen by Indians really applied to specific noun
tains they given 10 districts regions. There
large class OF names supplied from the first white
occupants or owners OF property and the Smiths and
Browns numerous great dispute In North Carolina
out of the naming OF Of the mountains there.
An early settler had asconded several SUBMITS and
finally was buried on one Of them the final decision in
that TO compound names, such " Mitchell
High Peak" The Inconvenience OF duplication Is serious
and Professor GuyOt was at loss To suggest remedy
lie said, - II Is real grand, distressing case"
Professor 3. H. Hademan considered the question from
were general well suited for use. In general they
are strictly nnpronOunceabe and OF them are
long. Where ho resided, Chickiessaunga had
been found too long for current USE and had
been cut In two each half now designating locality
maker, he had greatly incOnyenienced mankind II
he responsible for so long Pennsylvania
or Philade phia 1t Ia worth noticing that Frisco" 10
often substituted for San Francisco. People who get
their pronunciation from reading, apt TO make only
syllable for Grande, IN Rio Grande, name OF most
frequent duplication. Pennsylvania Dutch has converted
a" round top mountain into "DOmeroOp" Very much
might BE- done 10 prevent confusion tho Post Once
would refuse to recognize duplicate names Professor
gilbert said that the Post Once had achieved good work
In this line by refusing permit the duplication OF post
oico names IN State TIE new names whose adoption
had thus been secured soon became current 10 the
exclusion OF the old duplicates A similar system
promptly adopted by the Land Office would soon tend
to abolish the repetitions al the West
ARRANGEMENT OF LINES IN THE SPECTRUM.
Professor g. p Langley called the attention OF the