The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-20
RAINIER VS.. TACOMA.
Reasons for Retaining the Time
H0nored Name.
PLANS FOR THE WORLDS FAIR.
Seattle win Be Well Represented at the
Northwestern Exhibition at
Spokane Falls.

The trustees meeting OF the Chamber Of CON-
merce yesterday morning was called TO order by
PRESIDENT Lsary, and the following were pres
ent; Messrs. Chaplin, Davies, Graves, Hebron,
Leary, Mttten, Niesz, Prosch Rochester Wittler
ana Kittinser. A communication was read
rom the Western Central Labor Union. inviting
the board OF trustees to review the parade and
sIsend the picnic on Labor day. On motion of
MI Heiibron. seconded BY DR.. Mitten, the invi.
tauon was accepted, and the members of the
board requested to attend a. far as possible
iester was read from Secretary Rupert, of the
roft townsend Chamber of Commerce, to Sec
retary Dodge in reply to one written from here
on the 9TH in regard TO the changing OF the
name of Mount Rainier II 10 a follows:
Dear STR: ] have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt OF your communication of August T.
referring to the attempt to have me name of
Mount Rainier changed to Mount Tacoma
complying with the request OF your chamber an
official letter viii be forwarded to Washington
urging that the old and proper name be re-
tanned, and q copy Of this letter will be for.
warded 10 you.
1T may be OF some interest to your chamber
70 know that the Hon. James G. Swan, OF this
city, has already had some correspondence upon
this sui ject, and has informed the authorities
Washington OF the ia is in the case. This
correspondence originated in q request from
washington that he give an UMPIRE JUDGED re-
port upon the matter. and his reply ELECTED Q
letter OF thanks. The mountain was first deem
from Port To .vnsend, and was then and there
named Rainier The name Tacoma has no sig
nificance, and mas not even the merit OF being
Indian. 1t was evidently taken from'Ta ho- nah,
an Indian name meaning Snow Mountain
and might with equal appropriateness be ap-
piled to every one of the Casca les or the Olym-
pics.
Relieving the action Of this chamber win
fully carry ut your wis es, am, &c"
The letter sent by the Port Townsend Cham
Der OF Commerce, add ressed 70 Lieutenant Rich
ardson Clover, U. n. Hydrographic OH e,
Navy Department, Washington, D. c., is as FOL
lows:
1T has been made known to the Chamber of
CONNER e OF Por, Tow that an organized
attempt is being mad by certain citizens Of Ia
CONS to persuade The authorities at Washing
ton t. displsce the name of Mount Rainier
with that OF Mount facoma on maps issued by
the gov ment
"Argumen.s supporting such q change would
BE- equally potent to change the name of Mount
Olympus to Mount Port Townsend; Mount
Baker to Mount Whatcom: or Mount Hood to
Mount Portland.
Mount Rainier is as distinctly seen from
Sea tie, and dozen other towns. as from Ia
coma Vancouver FIRST saw the mountain from
the present site of Port Townsend, and then
an 4 there named IL IN honor Of Admiral Rain
Ter. one OF the heads OF the admiralty. From
thst time until the DR. sent day the mountain
has been known the world over, except in the
city OF Tacoma. as Mount Rainier. The ople
of Port Townsend have per uliar interest in the
retention ct the present name by reason of the
fact that here the mountain was christened.
The name Tacoma has no significance
whatever. L has not even the merit of being
Indian. 1t in true that small tribe Of Indians
called the mountains. Ta-ho-Mah.' meaning
that it was q white or snow-covered mountain.
The Clsllams in like manner called Mount
Baker sP'Kowitz which in their language
meant white mountsin.' 1t is very probable
that among other tribes Riinier and Baker
were known by other names. but every name
conveyed the idea of a snow-clad mountain.
.'It 10 the pronounced opinion of the members
Of this chamber that the names of geographical
vanity on the part Of the people OF Tacoma has
induced the application for this change. Yet
It is not from that city that the best view Of the
mountain is to be obtained.
Because Of the lack of any valid reason for
the proposed change of name, this chamber pro-
tests that no heed should be paid to the appli.
cation. Respectfully submitted.
FRANK A. BARTLETT, President"
NV. F. RUPERT. Secretary"
The letter from the Hon. James g. Swan.
which is also enclosed, sets forth the same facts
as the above, and closes:
Tacoma AZ the whites pronounce the word
Is not Indian, and has no significance other
than mspronuncia ion Of a native name. The
Tacoma people would like to change the name
of Commencement bay to Tacoma harbor, and
Puget sound to Tacoma sound. They tried hard
to have the state named Tacoma, and some
went so far as to call the Pacific ocean TIA
coma object TO any change of names of our
mountains. and think that Baker, Rainier, st.
Heiers, Olympics. ETC.. should be retained"
The report of the house committee on the res
taurant was received for the past month, dur.
ing (which the Chamber OF Commerce has had
charge of the restaurant. 1t shows that during
the last fifteen days the restaurant has been
self-supporting, but during the first fifteen IL
ran behind The reason is that during the first
two weeks IL was necessary to buy everything.
The figures are:
Receipts and stock on hand ............ Isl. 81
Deficit. ...... $751; As
This showing was more favorable than had
been hoped. and it is expected that the deficit
will be made mp during the next month. The
report was accepted, and the committee ordered
10 continue the work and report monthly.
Mr. Hebron read letter from Samuel Coll
YER OF Tacoma, stating that the Pacific Coast
Board of Commerce is TO hold its annual meet
ing at San Francisco September IL. Invitations
are 10 be issued to all Chambers of Commerce
delegates The Seattle chamber was urged to
attend. The president and secretary were d.
rected TO answer the letter. and the president to
name committee of three
Communications were read from C. B. Hop.
kius and Henry Drum, commissioners from the
state for tn Columbian exposition, to Messrs.
Hebron and Rochester concurring In their
recommendation to cali meeting of represent
tatives of all Chambers OF Commerce and Boards
of Trade in the state to convene at Olympia
during the special session of the legislature
Mr. Rochester exclaimed the position taken by
this committee, and also the sition of Mr..
Drum as state1 to him verbally The matter is
summed up in this letter from Senator Drum,
dated Tacoma. August Is, TO Messrs. Heilbron
and Rochester:
81 have your favor of July IS In regard TO
taking steps 10 have the Pacific coast and par
tculsrly the state OF Washington. properly rep
resented nj the comm &C Columbian EXPOSITION in
1893 think your suggestion of calling con-
yenticn TO be composed Of representatives from
the various Chambers of Commerce ana Boards
of Trade OF our state is Q most excellent one.
should be glad to join in the call for such con-
yeuton and probably. as you suggest, Olympia
would be the most available place TO hold IL.
am undecided as 70 whether we should call such
meeting during the special session of the legis-
lature, or postpone the convention until
say next January, at which time the ne W legis-
lature will be in regular session. and the one,
think, from which we are to expect our ap-
preparation. have grave doubts a. to whether
IL would be wise 70 ask the legislature az ats
SD, cia session for any appropriation, and if so,
/ think IL shou be for q very small amount