The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-18
BIssELL.s SURRENDER.
How the Row Over Changing the
Name of AppomattOx Was Settled.

How the Row over Changing the
Name of ~Appomattox Was Settled.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. T7.-As announced
a few days ago, the Postofice Department
has at last taken action in the Appomat-
tox case by restoring the old name to the
historic old town that had borne it for
decades. The Gordian knot was cut by
the Postoffice Department by calling the
town of Nebraska, where the Appomattox
County Courthouse now is, West Appomat-
tox. Mr.. Tucker, the Representative from
the district in which A~ppomattox is To-
Gated. called on the Postmaster-general
and had a long conversation with him, in
which he stated that the only arrangement
that could be made would be some change
whereby the old name could be restored
to the old town of Appomattox. Many
months ago he suggested to the depart
ment the ACCESSIBILITY of changing the name
of the present Appomattox, nee Nebraska,
to West Appomattox. thus restoring the
old name to the town to which it rightfully
belonged. The department objected to this
arrangement, however, because it would be
a violation of one of the rules of this adj
mlnistration forbidding the use of COM
pound names. The matter has been haggled
over necessarily, however, for months past,
and Mr.. Tucker has been an almost con-
slant visitor to the department on bust
ness connected with this change in the
other solution of the question could be de-
termined on, and so after Mr.. fuckers
last visit the Postmaster-general decided
TO break one of his rules and call the town,
formerly called Nebraska and lately Apo
mattox. by the compound name West APP
county seat and also allowing the %restora-
ton of the old name to the town that had
borne it during the stirring days of the
The story of the departments action in
this case is an interesting one. TIL an
nouncement that the name of Appomattox
followed by a show of interest in all parts
of the country. The complaint against the
strange as 1t may seem, but from the North
and West. Grand Army posts were par
t~iculariy active in asking for a restora-
ton Of the old name. A number of posts
voiced their objections in resolutions and
petitions, which were sent to the depart
ment in patches, and strong editorials
against the action of the department APP
peared in many papers throughout the
country. In all the discussion that followed
the Postoffice Department was unjustly and
severely criticised. The department had
the request of a NUMBER of the patrons
of tie offices at Appomattox and Nebraska.
The department did not take the initia-
tive IN the matter and really took no ae-
tion until after several requests had been
made by the postmasters at
and Nebraska. Later, however, ffty-one
IcSluculS u ~ Npthty VI hPpoiidlOA pc
titioned the department to restore the old
name, giving Nebraska the name Appomat-
tox Court House. This, however, would
have led TO ccnfusion. the two names being
so nearly similar. The people of Nebraska
wished to keep the name Appomattox for
their town, as the courthouse had been
built there after the old courthouse at APP
pomattox had been burned. This was, of
course. the real reason for wishing. to have
the town called ~Appomattox, as there ex-
lists in Virginia a strange custom, which
Is almost an unwritten law. The county
seat is called by the same name as the
county, with the words court house added.
The removal of the courthouse from one
town to another. as In this case. is always
followed by a change of name. In this
case, however. such a change necessitated
the destruction of historical associations
feed.