The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-06-13
NOT GRAND; BUT ME0SH0

There is at Washington a board
known as the United States board
OF geographic names, the function OF
which is to pass on geographical
names This board has certain ar.
bitrary powers, that is. II i decides
that a certain name il correct or
that certain spelling should be used
all government officials must con
form to the decisions of the board.
This means that all public docu-
ments must use the specified form
of spelling or the name indicated By
the board,
Some few months ago this board
In its wisdom decided that the
proper name for the large river In
Eastern Oklahoma. which flows from
Kansas south and joins the Arkan-
sas river near Muskogee, was not
Grand but Neosho. This, notwith-
standing the fact that from, time I'M
memorial the term Grand has been
applied to this Stream,
Prof. Gould, state geoogst Is en-
deavoring TO make the board see the
error OF its ways, and 10 Do this he
has addressed the following letter
to each Of the Oklahoma delegates
in congress. lie suggests that those
who are interested in the matter Of
perpe4uating the historic name or
Grand river write either to the
senators and representatives. in con
gress, or better still 10 Henry Gan.
nett, United States geological sur
}ey, Washington, d. G., who is the
chairman OF the bosfd
The United states board of geo
praphic names, has decided that our
Grand river In Eastern Oklahoma is
moi Grand river at all, bur Neosho.
In other words, they say the name
iNeosho should be applied to this
stream all the way from the Kan
sas line to the Arkansas river. Those
OF us who know anything about the
matter know Grand river is formed
by the Neosho and Spring rivers
which Join west of the town OF Wyan
dotte in Ottawa county From this
junction to the Arkansas river the
| river is known as Grand, has been
known as the Grand for the last
I hundred years and will continue 10
be known as the Grand in spite OF
geographic or other boards In the
state We use The term Grand river.
Y have always used Il in the OKLA.
homa geological survey publications
and expect TO so continue using it.
The legislature OF Oklahoma passed
concurrent resolution No. Is, which
| passed the senate February "a, 1911
and passed the house. February "a,
1911 which memoralizes the board
TO retain the name Grand river, and
asks the Oklahoma delegations to
work for that end
| "A government geologist who is
now going into press with a report
on he geology of Oklahoma writes
me under date Of Jine 5th, that he
VIII be obliged to conform to the
rnlipg OF the board, and writes fur.
ther that all cooperative work which
e published by the United States
geological survey win have to use
the word Ne0shO also He also says
"A regret this very much for am
! thoroughly satisfied that Grand riy
en- Is the proper name both histori
cally and by usage have made two
| attempts 70 get the board to change
its decision, but to no avail"
win You not interest Yourself II
| this matter2 believe that a lette
Or better still a personal glterviev
with the chairman OF the board, MFR
lienfy Gannett, OF the United States
geological survey would straightei
matters out