Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-23
SETTLES PROBLEMS IN NAMES
PUBLICATION OF DECISIONS BY
GEOGRAPHIC BOARD.
Spelling of the Designations of
Places in ALI Parts of
the World.

The United states geographic board has
just issued a publication containing all
decisions rendered BY the board during
the year ended July |. 1909. In its prefa-
tory note. it is stated that the board
passes on all unsettled questions concern
ing geographic names which arise in the
departments. as we'll as determining.
changing and fixing place names within
the United States and its insuar posses
sions and all names hereafter suggested
by any officer of the government shall be
referred to the board before publication.
The decisions of the board are to be ac-
cepted by all the departments OF the
government as standard authority. Ad-
visory powers were granted the board
concerning the preparation of maps. com
piled or to be compiled, in the various
offices and bureaus Of the government,
with a special view TO the avoidance o.
unnecessary duplication of work, and for
the unifcation and Improvement o. e
scales Of maps, of the symbols and con-
ventions used upon them. and of the
methods of representing relief. Herea fte:'
all such projects as are IF Importance
shall be submitted to this board for adj
vice before being undertaken.
The officers and members of the board
are: Henry GanTett, chairman. Frank
Bond. representing the general land Of
nee, Department OF the interior, .AUUItN
Braid, coast and geodetic survey. Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor; Henry
Gannett. geological survey. Department
of the Interior: Adolph Won Haake. Post
Office Department.: Arnold B. Johnson,
lighthouse board. Department of Com
merce and Labor: Thaddeus W. Jones,
office of the chief of staff. Department of
War: Frank A. Kidd. government print
ing office: William McNeir, bureau of
rolls and library. Department of State: {.
Hart Merriam, bureau of biological sur
vey, Department of Agriculture: John S.
Mills. office of the Secretary, Department
of the Treasury: Fred G. Plummer, forest
service. Department of Agriculture:
Charles S. Sloane. bureau of census, De-
partment of Commerce and Labor:
Charles W. Stewart, library and Naval
War Records Office. Department of the
Navy: Albert G. Winterhalter. hydro
graphic office. Department of the Navy.
Some Queer Names.
Decisions are rendered on the spelling of
names of places located in all parts of
the world. For instance. we have Ban
coast of Persia, which is not to be spell
ed "Bandar Abbas," Bender Abbas, =
.'Gambroon' or "Gombrun'' on charts,
maps or publications issued in this coun-
try.
II is the spelling of the name of an
island east of Quelpart, southern coast of
Korea. This is the shortest geographic
name known.
Fifteenth Cavalry is the name adopt
ed for a pass in Mindanao, Philippine
Islands.
'Heilungkiang is the spelling of a
province in Manchuria, China, it taking
the place of the various forms heretofore
in use. as follows: Helungkiang Hell
lung kiang He-lung- kiang. Hilung- Chang
and Tsitskhar.
Coming nearer home, we have "Caloosa-
hatchee," a river in Lee county, Fla. !:
Canada del Corte de MADEIRA, land
grant, five miles southwest of Stamford
University, CAL; Paradise Dry is the
name of a canyon in Cache county. Utah.
Van Deventer," is a name given to an
island in the Potomac river in Montgom-
cry county. This island was hereto. ore
variously known as Gassaway, Gassa-
ways, Van Devender Van Devener and
Vandevener.
"Asquith'' is an island in Honga river,
Dorchester county, Md, which is not to
be known as "Ascombs or ''Aisquith,' -
as heretofore.
..Backgarden'' is a spelling adopted for
creek in Dorchester county Md This
takes the place of Back Garden Bear
Garden and Big Pond. which are
names yarouSly used for the same place.
"Chicamacomico supplants the old
spelling of Chicmacomico and Chick
amacomico. being river in Dorchester
county Md. While ''Pone' is given as
the name To what was formerly ''Billys. ."
an island in the same county.
''Seiden.' an island on the Potomac
river. Montgomery county. takes the place
of the old spelling, sheldon"
''Spotsylvania" county and courthouse
Virginia, is adopted instead of the former
spelling of the word with two IT'S.