The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-06-18
he Valley Virginian.
CLIFTON FORGE, VA.

The U. S. Board of Geographical Names have
decided that the word Denmarck be spelled
without the flnal k that Drurys Bluff be spell
ed without the possessiVe S, and that the same
be done with Newport's News. If the board
referred to can change the names of these
places in Virginia, it can. of course, change
those of all the others. But il has no more right
to alter the name of a Virginia town than it has
to change that of citizen OF State.-Aleran-
dria Gazette.
The gazette is correct as far as the
right of the action of the Board is con-
cerned. But these changes do not con-
fuse the public mind as to the matter
in question, and are really an improve
ment on the traditional way Of desig-
mating them.
If, however, the Gazette's ire is aroused
by the slight and appropriate modifica-
ton suggested above in spelling, what
will it have to say of citizen of the
State who has assumed to wipe out the
traditions and history of Virginia. Maj.
Jed Hotchkiss has taken it upon himself
to ignore the divisions of the State as
recognized from time immem vial; to re-
construct It's geography; toll. from the
school books and maps the Southside;
the Northern Neck; Piedmont; South
west, and modify even The Valley Of
Virginia. lie has dogmatically run his
pen through Browns Gap, known as
such from the earliest history of the
Commons wealth, and substituted there
for Shenailn Pass, to give prominence to
the Land Company of which he is Pres
ilenf He has, in the same self con
scious way, stricken Elliott's Knob from
its place in geographical annals, and
made it known as Mount Rodgers.
The liberty taken with historical
names and localities in Virginia, by
Major Hotchkiss, may tickle his fancy
and administer to his conccit, but the
people of Virginia have no idea of giving
their approval to- much less adopting,
the changes he has announced. These
innovations come at an inopportnne
time, too, to further an object his friends
have careiessly presented TO the public.
That is to elect him to the position OF
State tieologist, should the office be
created If he should be chosen to that
important position, he would likely take
it as license to continue to make
changes in historical names. and still
further inDoyate upon the traditions Of
3he Old Dominion Whether anything
that relates to the geographical history
of the sstate would be then held sacred
or not, we have no means of knowing. =
Certainly the precedent we have ia tins
arbitrary changes enunelaJad and the
self-conseious way in which they HAYS
been announced, wonld warrant the con
clusion that a decade hence it would moi
be the Old Dominion. the Old Common
wealth, the Mother OF States and o
Statesmen. but III otehki ss' Virginia. o.
possibly, it might better suit the inven-
tive propensity Of this modern geogra
pher to Ignore even the word Virginia
| as smacking too much of Anticipated as
sociations, and denominate the old Stat
| .'Hotchkiss' New Discovery" Certainl,
| Hotehkiss thinks he knows it all, whethe
| things on the earth or under it, and tina
he ought to be privileged to indulge hi
mania for modernization, even at thu
expense of everything sacred associated
| with the history and traditions of thu
/ grand old State.
! OF course we do not want to interior
/ with the plans of the mutual admiration
society that has been fayoring Majo
/ Hotchkiss for State Geologist. We thinl
when this question comes up to be Sc
riously considered, there will apt to b
/ something more required than newspa
per ssnibs, to influence the appointing
power He may be the man for tn
place. but conclusion should not b
reached by q hasty jump or determine
by the facility with which histories
names are changed to suit a within q
fancy.