Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-12-16
MAY CHANGE NAME
OF THE SNAKE RIVER
Geographical Society Seriously Considers
This Among Numerous Other
Changes il Idaho

The mighty Snake river. which
is destined to furnish more water
power than any other stream of it's
size and length in the United States,
stands a chance of having its name
changed, if the plans of some of the
prospective members of the proposed
state geographical society of Idaho,
to be organized in Boise January 1 3
and planning an attack on the Snake
river are deemed sufficient if con-
fined to the one reason that the word |
SNAKE" is not emblematic of rep
tiles, but it gives the impression
outside of the state to many ignorant
of conditions in Southern Idaho
that the mighty river is boiling with
the slippery and dangerous monsters
says a Boise correspondent.
While there will probably be
vigorous protest made by the pion-
eers of Idaho against the abolition of
many of the present frontier names
attached to mining districts, rivers,
creeks. gulches, canyons, etc. it will
be one of the aims of the new geo.
graphical society to treat them In
the same manner as they intend to
handle the Snake river. It has
been suggested that the old name Of
Clark be attached to the Snake in
stead of the latter. This name was
used in the early days. but for some
unknown reason was dropped Such
titles as the "seven Devils,
skeleton Gulch," "Hangman's
Creek" 'Rattlesnake Mountain,
etc, will come in for criticism, and
the society may adopt strict regula-
tions by which more appropriate and
harmonious names may be selected,
which in time will do away with the
present alleged Objectionable ones.
Il is claimed by enthusiastic inter-
ests in the organization Of the society
that to mention many of these very
inappropriate names outside Of the
state. especially In the East, gives
strangers a very poor impression Of
Idaho. and is very liable to fire their
imaginations.
Every effort will be made to adopt
cooperative plar on which to
work to establish accurate and
genuine geographical conditions In
the Gem State. The society viii be
perfected by the election of a presi-
, dent. vice president, secretary and
board Of directors. The board of
directors will act as an executive
board and will probably consist Of
! between 25 and 30 members, one
from each county and several from
Ada county. so that those located in
I Boise, which is to be the headquart-
!. ers Of the osciety, can be in close
I. touch with the work Of the society
I and frequently meet
!. The main work of the society will
!. fall upon the executive board. 1t is
{ planned to have the representative
I members carefully compile the data
1 of their respective counties. first
/ securing an accurate map by com
I pairing the various maps and having
I the lines verified if necessary by the
/ surveyors generals department and
/ with the cooperation Of interested
I people in their county arrange In
i alphabetical order, data relative tc
4 the names Of streams. mountains
I rivers, canyons, gulches, districts
I and all geographical landmarks, land
I under plow. under irrigation, under
I plow and not irrigated semi-ariC
7 not under plow, total number Of
I acres of land to be irrigated, fores1
7 acreage. assessed valuation, popula
4 tions, roads, amount of good roaC
4 work done.
4 Each member Of the committed
! doing this should secure a fairll
Z accurate status of his county. Th'
4 data will then be forwarded to th'
= officials Of the society. When com
Z pleted, the entire data would be com
4 piled and uesd for ddwh. ,,hggggggl
/. piled and used as valuabele refer