National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-31
ARCTIC AFFILIATIONS.
Secretary Lincoln's Suggestions Re-
garding Names on tho Polar Maps.

secretary Ltncoln's suggestions Re-
gerding Names on tho Polar Maps.
Tho following extract from an indorse-
ment placed by Secretary Lincoln upon
a communication from the secretary of
the navy touching the nomenclature of
points in the Arctic regions to be adopted
in the preparation Of new map by the
navy department, to which reference was
made in yesterdays REPUBLICAN, sets
forth the reasons for changes from the
designations suggested by Lieut.. Greedy:
There is serious objection to giving the
namo OF Capt. PIN to the island heretofore
supposed to be a headland and known as Capo
Sabine. The locality is SO well known as Cape
Sabine that II the island is TO be given a new
name, as such, 1t should be Sabine Island TO
prevent unnecessary confusion in referring
to II.
appreciate the motive Of Lieut.. Greedy in
attaching my own name TO one of the points
on the map, but if It is thought proper that
the point should DO named, wish some other
designation to be substituted on any map
hereafter published.
tons put upon this map 1t is my judgment
that n map such as is proposed to be made by
the navy department should not BIO filled with
names of persons placed there for no other
reason except their personal relations TO the
officers connected with tho Greedy expedition.
II Is a matter OF taste and propriety on which
opinions might differ to some extent but ad-
Lieut.. Greedy, 1t seems to me that as a
general rule the new names placed on the
map should be such that the reason for
those having fair knowledge ofthe history Of
| the expedition aud of Its personnel. The
propriety Of using tho names in suitable places
on this map of the Mto President Garfield, Of
President Arthur, ofthe late Secretary Hunt,
of Gen. Hazen, of Senator Conger, OF OF officers
and men OF the expedition would not be
| questioned. So also as TO the names OF Com.
mender s5chley aud Lieut.. Emery, and
such special exceptions as the name
of Lieut.. Greely's wife or OF Lieut.. Lockwood's
sister, But when Il comes TO putting on a
number of names of officers OF the army, how
ever highly esteemed, selected from the hun.
| dreds on the army register, not by reason OF
their military position or service or any con
nectlon with Arctic matters, but merely as
marks of personal friendship-such us Gen.
Pope, Con. Augur, Gen. Meigs Gen. Alyord,
Col; Merritt Col: r. !. Dodge, Capt J. M Ran
dali, Maj; ] ;. Fletcher, IT,, Lieut.. Manning
Capt D. NJ, Taylor, land others''-as stated in
Lieut. dreely's Endorsement or OF private in
| divduals or little children for the mere sake
of friendship or kinship, the project Is subject
to criticism as using an important public doc
ument apparently to serve not very dlgniied
| purpose.
Think 1t not unlikely If the estimable off,
GERS above named were consulted nearly all oil
them would prefer that In the absence of any
association on their part with the enterprise,
or with Arctic exploration In general, and Of
any apparent reason for using their names In
such connection, their names should not be
used. In the absence of any report as to the
necessity OF giving designations to so many
points 1t seems TO me that suihciently com
plete map to accompany Lieut. Greely's report
could be made using designations within the
general rule which have Indicated, with one
or two personal exceptions, which would be
recognized as proper to be made at the in
stance OF officers having the peculiar connec
ton with the expedition held by Lieut.. Greedy
and Lieut.. Lockwood.
1t isto be observed that the report OF Lieut.
Greedy does not apparently include all the
newly given names that would fall within thu
line Of the criticisms above made. Any Off
cial maps prepared for publication by the wa
department Will be made to conform to thu
views expressed In this Endorsement.
ROBERT r. LINCOLN,
Secretary of War.