The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-25
the NAME oF WlsuIne1on.
Letter From Ex-Gov. Watson c
\ Squire On the Subject.
cpgent Ksasons why she csmfss
state sAsAid Est.in rfs
Presess rlus.

/
rres<ss 1lue.
Last December Ex-Governor Squire
rereiyed q letter from Gen. Charles w.
During, corresponding secretary Of
the Oneida Historical society OF Utica,
S'sw York. asking him 20 express his
yhtws relative u the name which fse
Thought ought 20 be adopted for the
future state into which twas exported
that Washington Territory .onld soon
develop.
'Sovernor Squire gave the matter
inimediate and careful attention.
and prepared the letter which
Is given beIox. About that
tirne be was elected delegate to the
statehood convention at Elieslsburga,
and he thought it desirable TO confer
with other delegates in reference to
thJs matter before the letter was for
><arded TO the society. The letter was
submitted TO several leading men in
the territory and met with their hearty
approval On January 7, Governor
Squire mailed the letter, together with
note explaining the reason for the
delay IN sending il, and the two were
printed in the Utica Duifr Press Of
January IS, from which the PosT-Ix-
TEIiLTGEgcER reprints them.
sEkTrLE. W. r., Dee. u. Isss.
1stn- Carries W, Darling. corresponding
secretary 03edia Historical society," Utica
MI. Dear MIL would respectfully &C
knclwle.sge your communication af Dee.
-. In which you express yoar views Feis-
tive TO the name which you think oaxht to
be sdepted for the future stale into which
IL IL expected thar Washington Territory
win soon be developed
I thank you, also. for the enclosure
which yos sent. In which are presented
the resolutions recently adopted BY TIRE
Oneida Historical society relative 10 the
same suhjeef. copy of which. IL seems.
your society has forwarded to your men.
Der Of congress with view to influencing
congressional action. Az 3 resident or the
territory and former governor OF II.
hay,s some deiicacy in discussing this % at
ter st this time. lest anything say mar be
Thought uafrieHdly 20 the enterprising
fsHD Of Tacoma for y hose people enter
tain very high regard. II Is admitted
hAt the name 1ecoma Ii very beautiful
and beautifully derived. and we are IN
bears its name-whieh il nov believed 10
be. at least, the third in sire. II not
the second In sire In the territory
spokane Falls may claim TO be the
second In sixe. Be that asif may, genercus
and healthy rivalry pervsdes our vigorous
any congressional booming BY the a1op-
ton Of ito name for the stAfe There Is .
mountain about 20 miles southeast from.
Tacoma which, in Nay. 1792, vancouses,
By fhe acknowledged right Of discovery.
/ ri D-< IL 81
mfral OF that name, tsee @yancouver's
voyake of Discovery" page 235,) and this
mountain. which Is lofty and grand, has
stncs been generally known by that name
70 the residents of the territory. However.
certain people originally connected with
Northern Pacific Land Company; and this
coDylaDy established townsite ON Puget
sound and called IL Tacoma They also
propsise 20 change the pane OF Mount Raj
nier to Mount Taroma. and. later. they
piopt,se TO call the future state by the
same name - their town.
By certain persons verssd in the Indian
tongue IL Ia claimed fhat Tacoma is not an
Indian word. but that Ii In easily de lived
from the Indian Tah-xo nah pronounced
with eutferai sound ut the close OF The
first sslishiel Il is yarionssy. stated that
the Indians either applied this name 10
this particular mountain, or else used IL rs
general name applicable TO either Of the
great mountains rising in this vicinity.
Theoslore winthrop, In his Canoe and
Saddle says the name is applied to ali
snow peaks.
onelinterprefaiicn of tie Indian term is
said % b. "noufishing breast Rev ~.
EeIls. the veteran Indian agent, who is
admitted TO be very high authority In
such MATTERS. SAYS. Tacoma means In the
NissnA.iy LANGUAGE, the mountsip.' bat IL
was not given 10 II By the Indiana, ss their
name for il was anwak~ hu Twawhauk.n I
have ttased the foregoing IL answer to
your fEqaest concerning tie origin o. the
name Tacoma
The latter part Of your letter consists OF q
brief criticism OF The name Washington. rs
applicable 70 the future state. and you ask
me 20 give the subject my earnest consic-
Grafton. OF course. the subject Is q famii-
lar oua 10 me. rs wei as 10 most Of the old
or residents OF The territory, and Ii Is enc
that estneerns each one of a quarter of
milliola of people, who have already made
their home In the Territory of Washing
ton.
The territory has very many beautiful
Indian names of local application, but Il Is
very doubtful IL the people OF the territory
can agree upon one OF these local names as
being the desirable one for the future
state The newspapers here have hitherto.
IN past years. called for an expression OF
the preferences by their correspondents.
thus calling forth many suggestions,
but without any other definite
result than 20 demonstrate that the name
Washington Is preferable above all others
by the people OF the territory. Indeed. the
feeling at the present tine seems to be
nearly unanimous on that subject, aud IL
has EVEN been said that the people OF che
territory would prefer TO remain in their
territorial condition than 10 enjoy the ben
efiss of statehood coupied with the deere-
dalton of having 4 new and unwclcome
name thrust upon them by outsiders. Nor
~ this feeling strange when one reflects
that all the annals. chronicles and tradl-
tons. all the LEGAL laws. the privileges aud
titles connected with property; all the
social life. history and associations: the
political distinctions and the literary
records have been for 20 years, more than
q EenerHfion. grouped In q commonwealth
under the loved name of Washington
Now, while there Is somewhat popular
and lasidable fancy for the adoption of
picturesque Indian names. which wouie
not finst fault with unsfer proper condi-
lions. yet is seems Ike straining point Of
good fsls.e and etiquette To allow the
whims ~ people living In other common
name for this people without regard 20
their choice. The first. isss and best rea.
son for the adoption OF the name washing
ton IA, therefore, the preference OF the pes-
PIE of this commonwealth.
The name Of Washington Is Just a. ay,-
HTRbft&iE INN - ~ f3tA RAE left3HlEtf< HtSk
gave IL 10 the territory. What adequate
reason Ia there for disregarding their pref.
eeeRee In this matter What anfeceGs ns Il
there foe making this change Is there an
instance when q complete aud undismerl-
bercd territory ever came into the Union hy
another name than It's own@ If there were
such an instance when the country con-
prissed Was comparatively new and unset
tied, it wicald fern no precedent for q pop
niens and fairly deyescped territory saeh
as Washington now Is Furthermore as
another business reason. cur resources eli
mate, development and future prospects
are now advertised and known 20 al the
world under the name wsshingtor. Il has
the value to Us OF 4 trade marx -
And Ii not this commonwealth one OF the
mona saenss erected 20 TIE father ef the Re
pahsie- Way ifEpionsly seek 70 tear n
down lis The monument unworthy the
name only an iEu0ranns ccaid harbor
the Thought In area. Washington terri.
tnFy Is % rer cent Eresfer than the state Of
Neg York. she has q seabos ri unrsvaTlel
1.-THE wsaid- She has productive capas-
fsy Of Ice 0SaHuo Bushels of wheat per an
nuni- She has tae naoss extensive and
MAGNIFICENT forests for understandable tim
bar in thsi known world. She hiss such re-
sources at tse0 aud coal. slresag developed.
as to eatiile her "a the distinction Of being
called sThe feansy aala of the Pseinc"
Her commerce esteus1s 20 every cline
Her cities are supplied with most of abe
Tnodera cansentenecs and luxnriss. sach
ss eisrssfs' light and street cars, aud here