The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-23
Special to the Memphis News.

Special to the Memphis News.
 washington.-Henry Gannett. geogra- pher of the United States geological sur vey, has in press bulletin giving the origin of some ten thousand place names in the United States. "These," he says in letter of transmittal, ''have been compiled from various sources, printed and manuscript. The publication Is recom- mended not only for purposes of infor- nation, but to induce criticism and ad- ditions, with view of obtaining in the future all possible information on this subject
 The work should be of general interest as embodying considerable history. Dur ing the compilation of the bulletin, a large correspondence was carried on with local and state historical societies. state, county and township officers and individ- uals in all parts of the country. Much valuable material was collected in this way which otherwise would not have been | available.
 A few specimens will indicate the scope of the work:
 Alabama-State of the union and river of that state named from an Indian tribe. There are several explanations of the meaning of the word. Gatchet gives ''burnt clearing" Others say it means here we rest" Haines, in his American Indian" gives "thiclset clearing"
 Chicago-City and river in Illinois. The origin of the word is from the Indian, be- hxy a1tu nd TNran annotation from the word Chi-kang-ong. Col. Samuel A. Starrow used the name in a letter to Gen. Jacob Brown in 1916 as follows: 'The river Chicago Cor in Eng fish wild onion riverD." Schoolcraft, in 1920, said: Its banks | ." stated to pro- duce abundantly = . the wild species of cepa or leek." Bishop Baraga gives: From Chigag or Skigag, skunk, a kind of wild cat" John Turner defines skunk as 'she-gahg," onion. she-ganga- winzhe. "skunk-weed." When the word first appeared the country was inhabited by a tribe of Miamis, In whose dialect the word for skunk was "Se-kaw-kaw.' It Is said that the wildcat, or skunk, was named from the plant
 Chesapeake Bay In Maryland which gives name to several places in the coun- try. An Indian name variously ex- plained. Heckewelder says 1t Is corrupted from Tschischwapeki which is com pounded to kitschi. highly salted,'' and peek, "a body of standing water. a pond, a bay" Others give Che. great" and sepi, waters" Bosnian interprets it as mother of waters" w. W. Tooker says that the early form was Chesepiooc. from "K' che-sepi- lack" country on a great river.''
 Lewis and Clarke-River in Ciatsor county, Oregon and county in Montana named for Captain Meriwether and Capt William Clarke of the Lewis and Clarke expedition.
 This work of the geological survey pos sesses a very interesting educational value and it will no doubt elicit informa- ton which will more nearly approximate the truth as to the origin of geographic nomenclature in America than is appar- ently contained in the display of knowl- edge made by the geological survey. Al ready persons are beginning to be heard from who have different version from those given in the government publication as to the meaning and derivation of cer- tain names.
 The paragraph devoted to the name Alabama Is quite inadequate. The com. mon acceptance of the meaning of the word Alabama" it is we'll known, has for long time been There we rest" But that has been discovered to be fgmenl