The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-08-21
U. S. NEW SPELLING BOOK
Teachers, Scholars, and Mapmakers Will Have
a Lot TO ReIearn

The Russo-Japanese war has raised a
question as 10 the proper spelling of
geographical names that is perplexing
alike to the teacher, the pupil and the
general reader. The magazines and
newspapers have different spellings
OF the same place-name, and the condi-
ton has become important in an edu-
cationaI sense. For many years the
Almanach de GOtha" has been a bio
graphical and statistical authority IN
Europe, but its annual issues are in
French, with alternative pIace-names in
the vernaculaT; therefore this work is
of no use in determining correct spell
ings for American readers. The most
practical authority is the "Statesman's
Year Book an English annual OF high
Tepute. a majority probably OF the
good writer's of the United States fol-
low this authority in preparing their
manuscript, but they are too often at
the mercy of the rules of the Office
I'D be OF much service in establishing
q uniform style Of geographical spelling
even if they could collectively decide
the question Of correctness.
The newspapers and magazines pre-
sent the forms Manchuria and Man
chUOria; Liao-Tung. LeaO Tong and
I.iaOtung; New-Chwang and Niu-
chwang, Corea and Korea, Chemulpo
and Chemulpho. Masampo and Masam-
pho. Moukden and AIukden. Pe-Chi-li
and Pechili. etc, besides Tibet and
Tibet Congo and kOngO. Hayti and
Haiti. Chile and Chilli. Behring and Be
ring. etc and young students get low
ratings because their spelling derived
from publications Of the day. is differ
ent from the teachers favorites. Who
Is right?
In q manner so quiet that very few
persons have ever heard Of it, Uncle
sam has been conducting a small but
very select spelling school FOR some
time, and has issued several INSTALL
ments OF a new spelling book that viii
greatly disturb teachers, scholars. map
makers and q. host of other people who
would ordinarily be champions in any
spelling bee
The prime object is 10 secure unifor-
nifty in the spelling OF geographical
names in all government publications
A board sitting in Washington takes up
all place-names Of more than one form
that may be submitted 10 it. applies
TO them a code of rules formulated for
The. purpose and then votes on the forms
suggested by the members. The form
receiving a majority vote becomes the
official one. and under the act OF con-
gress creating the board viii thereafter
De uSeQ II al 6DhtLlllllclA buDtANrt LADli,s
including maps. To effect the desired
reform. the board proceeds under the
following rules:
]. The avoidance. so far as it seems
practicable. OF the pOssessive form OF
names.
, The dropping of the final n in
the termination "burgh.'
, The abbreviation Of borough" 10
''boro'
4. The spelling Of the word center"
as here given.
>. he discontinuance OF the use Of
hyphens IN connecting parts OF names.
s The omission. wherever practical be
Of the letters &C. H" court housed aft
er The names Of county seats.
= The simplhcation of names consist
ing Of more than one word by their
combination into one word
s. The avoidance of the use of dia
critic characters.
9. The dropping OF the words city
and town" as parts of names.
While the board gives its chief atten-
ton TO place-names in the United
states. its decisions on foreign ones
have seemed necessary for diplomatic
intercourse and publications; and il IS