Connecticut western news., 1894-02-01
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY l. 1894
AN OPEN PARLIAMENT

AN OPEN PARLIAMENT
 In Regard to Changing the Name of the
 Village of Canaan, Conn.
 The editorial in the NEWS of Jan. 11th entitled "Great Burlington cs Great Ca naan" has awakened people far and near to the necessity of changing the name of the rilage of Canaan in order to eliminate the wide spread confusion in regard to the size and geographical location of this village. The reasons for said confusion were set forth in said editorial. There seems to be no limit to the confusion. Many are so confus- cd that they think the proposition was to change the name of the to,cn of North Canaan whereas the proposition was to change the name of the piRage of Ca naan. For this reason we cannot pub lish verbatim some letters that have been written the NEWS on this subject; but we can. and do. publish such DOT tions of said letters as are pertinent.
 MT Henry Belden, of Falls Village, writes:
 ssNow about the word "Great' to be added to Canaan. Oh how ashamed I should be think of the boastful spirit of it whom through great tribulation the legislature % kindly gave you the name ~sN~-xl O~-.~~ ~an un- h.l xo lo was to add North to your shingle and make it perfectly right and satisfactory to all. Now all you have to do is to re pent of your errors in the past and in scribe North Canaan on your fair escutcheon and let it remain forever"
 We confess ws do not know why the name of this village, railroad station, and post office was not changed from Canaan to North Canaan when the town of Ca naan was divided into two towns. about S5 years ago, and when the north part of the original town adopted the name of North Canaan while the south part of the original town retained the name of Canaan. But during an experience of eight years as postmaster of this village we had daily proof that letters, legal documents and newspapers went astray in consequence of the multitude of places named Canaan. Now suppose the name of this post office should be changed from Canaan to North Canaan, see what the result would be. The majority of people would neglect to add the words "Litchfeld County" to the address on an envelope and the letter would be liable to go to New Canaan in Fairfield County and remain unclaimed Again. many people would neither add Litchfield County nor write out the word North" but the address on ar envelope would contain only the name and the words "N. Canaan, Conn" IT all such cases the letter would stand ar even chance of being sent to New Ca naan, and in fsct more than an ever chance inasmuch as by long established cuetom all letters bearing the addres, ssN. Canaan" are sent to New Canaar as the presumption is that is their in tended destination. EDITOR NEWS
 Mir Allen B. St. John, of Kankakee H., writes:
 see there is some agitation in you paper about changing the name of you village, and you favor "Great Canaan and someone suggests 'Wsngum. have been a resident of both towns, Ga naan and North Canaan, but am not O either now but would say prefer tn, word "Grand" to "Great." But if al Indian name is liked by Q majority would suggest that "Kankskee" be trle, as you could import it under the Wilson Bill free undoubtedly as the town i Democratic you might not find man, kickers, but I am not there to dictate.
 We think Mir St. Johns suggestion of "Grand Canaan" is @ grand good sug gestion, furthermore it has one impoi tant feature to recommend it the sam as "Great Canaan" has, viz, not anothe place of the same name in the Unite, States. EDITOR NKws.
 In the NEWS of Jan. 25sh was publish ed . suggestion from A. 0. 0. w. wh desired to have the village of Canaa called "Sedgwick. In regard to sai suggestion we will remark that in thi country there are already seren differen places named .'Sedgwick" and on place named '.Sedgewickville.
 The Winsted Herald recently mad one suggestion but it now comes fol ward with another as follows:
 The Herald suggests that the villag of Canaan be again baptized and give the name of New Jerusalem. We don think anyone can find fault with ths name. It is unique, poetical and assc ciated with all that ''tendeth not evil" and. like the old name of Canaan can be found in the Bible.
 (Hold on there, MT Herald! If yo studied the postal guide as much as 70 evidently study your Bible you woul find that there are already three place in the United States named "New Jerr salem" Your proposed name for tn village of Canaan. is not so unique and so funny as you thought it wal EDITOR NEWS.
 The Berkshire News of Jan. 20th a tempted to be funny, and after givin aome humorous reasons why "Gres Burlington wAs born great and h'