The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-18

accomplished-the establishment of a
belief in the existence of great river
emptying into the Pacific Ocean. He
designated by the name Oregon a great
river flowing into the Pacific. and when
in after times such river was discover
ed the name was ready at hand.
The name of California appears to
have been taken from Spanish ro-
nance, LAS Sergus de Esplandian,n in
which is described 1.-THE great Island of
California, where great abundance of
gold and precious stones is found"
This worthless romance was published
in 1910, and generally read. Probably
the name of California engaged the
fancy of some of the officers of Cortes,
and was given by them to the country
discovered by him in 1885. 1t is strange
that the name accidentally given should
have proved so exactly descriptive.
The State of Nevada takes its name
from the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
which line its western frontier, the
mountains in their turn began named
from the Sierra Nevadas of Grenada,
which they are said to resemble in the
serrated line of their SUBMITS.
Minnesota is named from the Mime
sofa or st. Peters river, the principal
tributary to the Mississippi within its
limits. The Indian word is Mini-sotah,
signifying slightly turbid water" or as
the Minnesota historian more fancifully
puts it, s'sky-tinted water"
Nebraska is named from the Nebras-
ka river. A writer in the North Anae7i-
can ReUieoo on 1.-The Missouri Valley"
says the word is Indian, and is COM
pounded of nee, ''river," and braska,
shallow" Morgan, in his article on
Indian migrations, North american Re-
UieaU, says 1.-THE name of the Platte river
in the Kaw dialect is Ne-blas-ka, signi-
flying corresponding flats with shallow
water DIR. Hale says the name I'M
doubtedly refers to the flatness of the
country.
The State of Kansas is named from
its principal river. The latter is named
from the tribe of Indians called the Kon-
zas, who lived upon its shores. Mr..
Schoolcraft uses the name Kansas to des-
ignate the tribe. De Sofa marched
southcrly from the northern limit of his
expedition in search of rich province,
called Cayas. This points to the origin
al name of the tribe, the Kaws. Tho
present name has, therefore. an Indian
root varied by French orthoepy.
Colorado is named after the great Rio
Colorado, which rises in the Rocky
Mountains and falls into the Gulf of
California. The name signifies in Span
ish ''ruddy," ''blood red,' in a secon-
dairy sense ''colored," in allusion to the
color of its waters. The river is not
within the limits of the State, and only
belongs to it by some of its tributaries.
The State of Mississippi is named af-
ter the great river. Mr.. Atwater, q
member of this society, gives the Indian
name of the river Meesyseepee, 1.-The
great water That the Indian word
signifies the father of waters is clear
ly erroneous. According to Mr.. Gal.
Iatin's Synopsis of Indian Tribes"
''Missi'' never means father" but
''alr' - swhole.'' The word ''sipi"
means in the Chippewa river" Thus
the words united mean ''the whole riv-
err because many streams unite to
form it.
In considering the name of Alabama
we go back to the expedition of De Soto
in 1911 His last battle was at Alibamo,
on the Yazoo river. This was the IA
nous fortress of the brave tribe some
times called the Alibamons. and some
times the Alabamas. lie Clerc, who re-
sided in the Creek Nation twenty years,
and wrote history published in Paris
in 1902, says that the Alabamos came to
the Yazoo from the north of Mexico. and
that after the battles with De Soto they
removed to the river which now bears
their name; that they are the same peo-
pie as the Alibamos, who fought De
Soto. Pickett, in his History of Ala
bama, states that from these people
the river and State took their names"
Aliens History of Kentucky says Ala
bama is an Indian name signifying
''here we rest" Mr.. Schoolcraft SAYS
cautiously that the name has been in
terpreted here we rest" We have not
been able to find anything very restful
in the history of the Alabamos, which is
one of migrations. Mr.. Meeks, a good
authority in that State. thinks the word
Alaba is only the name Hillaba, the
Ullibahallee of De Soto, a theory at va
Rance with that of LIE Clerc, and refer
ring the origin of the name to a differ
ent tribe.
There is no State in the Union which
bears the name of Cabot, or of Corona
do, or of De Soto, or Of La Sale. And
there is Father Marquette, whose form
rises before us, dazzling and immortal
as we open the pages of our early his
tory. Was there no State to feel itself
honorcd to be called after his names?
But the wrong may yet be righted. In
the naming of the new States which yet
remain to be formed from our Western
domain, the last opportunity will be
given to do justice to these great dis
coverers, and it would be a graceful and
appropriate Office of this society, as
cases arise, to exert its influence by cor
respondence with local authorities, and
by memorial to Congress, in favor of
rendering to them even at this late day
this exalted tribute.-Nee0 York EUenipag
Doot