The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-07
A Government Reform Spelling Blu
Pean.

reau.
Most European countries have some
recognized authority in geographic nomen-
clature and photography. The French
academy of sciences and the royal geo.
graphical society OF London have been for
years the supreme authorities in their
respective countries upon these matters.
But in America, where new geographical
names are being continually added to the
charts OF the country, no organization or
authority existed, until recently. to bring
about a uniform usage in regard to geo
graphical names. Several bureaus OF
the government have issued maps and
charts, which, for lack of harmony, have
been conflicting, in both the nomen-
clature and photography of some very
important points. For instance, the hy-
geographic bureau of the navy depart
ment insisted on "Bering' sea, while
the coast and geodetic survey retained
"Behriug." Each bureau insisted on the
retention of its own style until
a conference OF representatives of each
department of the government was held
tn determine upon some plan or system Of
harmOnizing the differences ex sting
among the bureaus. The outcome of this
conference was the creating, by an execu-
tive order OF Sept. 4, 1890, of the "U. S.
Board on Geographic Names" with Prof.
MENDENHALL, superintendent of the coast
survey, as chairman. The other members
of the board were taken from the state
department, lighthouse board, treasury
department, engineer corps of the war
department, photographic office of the
navy department. posto6ice department
and the geological survey.
This board has just issued its first re-
port. Two hundred and twenty-six
geographical names have either been
changed or the ort biography improved
upon. One of the first controver-
biography Of "Bering" sea. The records
were searched and it was discovered
that the explorers name in his own
native country, Holland, was spelled
"Bering." He received the baptismal
name OF Boring" The official documents
signed by him while in the employ OF the
government of Russia shows that he adj
hered to Boring" The insertion OF the
"h" was made in Germany. Hereafter
"Behring' will not be found on the Of
fetal maps Of the government and having
received official sanction, the ~orthography
OF that name will soon be universally
changed to Boring" That form has al
ways been adopted by non-English speak
ing nations.
Following are some of the changes made
by the new board in geographical names
'Akkra" for "Accra," West Africa "Ana-
costa" river for Eastern Branch Dis
trlct of Columbia ;"Arakan,"~ province aud
city, for "Aracan" in Burmah, Asia; "Ba-
luchistan," India, for five other forms
Barbados island for Barbados; >
British "Kaffraria" for British "Caf-
r%aria;" "Chile," republic of, for Chill !"
Colombia" republic of, for Columbia"
The new way to spell "Colvile" river is
'Colville;" Cooks" inlet, Cook" inlet.
Koos,' FOR "Coose" bay, Oregon, shouldnow
be spelled "Coos." Fiji" island, not "Fee-
ice; Governors" Island, n. Y, not "Gov-
ernor's - 'Guadeloupe' island, not "Gau-
deloupe; y republicof Haiti, not "Hayli."
"H~eligoland," which England recently
coded to Germany, has been changed to
"Heleoland;" "Hong Kong" to Hong
kong ""Hudson's" bay to "Hndson" bay
Congo" river and state. West Africa, to
"Kongo;" "Long" peak, Colorado, to
Longs" "M~uscat," Arabia, to "Maskat."
In the new state of Washington, Mt.
Tacoma" will hereafter be known as Mt.
RAINIER" The seal islands of Alaska are
to be known as "Pribilof' islands, while
Porto Rico" West Indies, is changed to
"Puerto Rico"
The board of geographic names will
be a permanent institution of the govern
ment, as all the coast survey, hydro
graphic, land Office. geological bureau and
post route charts will hereafter be made to
conform with the standard adopted. This
standard of geographical nomenclature
and spelling bureau will eventually be
recognized as authority by the press of
the country, as well as by the schools.
Was Decentralization Constitutions