The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-06-16
NAME OF GRAND RIVER
TO REMAIN UNCHANGED

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 arbi-
trary powers, that is, if it decides that
certain name is correct or that cer-
tain spelling should be used, all gov
ernment officials must conform to the
decisions of the board. This means
that all public documents 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 Arkansas river
] near Muskogee, was not Grand but
Neosho. This, notwithstanding the
fact that from time immemorial the
term Grand has been applied to this
stream.
Prof. Gould, state geologist, is en-.
deavoring to make the board see the
. error of its ways, and TO do this he
has addressed the following letter to
each of the. Oklahoma delegates in
congress. He suggests that those who
are interested in the matter of per
petuating the historic name Grand
river, write either to the senators and
representatives in congress, or better
still to Henry Gannett, U. S. geologi
cal survey, Washington, D. c., who il
chairman of the board.
"The United States board of geo
graphic names, has decided that oul
Grand river in eastern Oklahoma i!
not Grand river at all, but Neosho. II
other words, they say the name Ne
osho should be applied to this strean
all the way from the Kansas line Il
Arkansas river. Those of us who know
anything about the matter know Crane
river is formed by the Neosho AM
Spring rivers which join west of tn
town of Wyandotte in Ottawa county
From this junction to the Arkansa
river the river is known as Crane
has been known as the Grand for th
last hundred years and will continu
to be known as the Grand in spite 0
geographic or other boards. In tn
state we use the term Grand river,
: have always used it in the Oklahom
geological survey publications and e.
: pect to SO continue using it. The LEI
islature of Oklahoma passed concu
rent resolution No. 18, which passe
: the Senate February %, 1911, an
passed the house February "a, 1911
!, which memorializes the board to r.
tain the name of Grand river, and ask
the Oklahoma delegations, to work fC
: that end
A government geologist who is no
/, going into press with a report on II
geology of Oklahoma, writes me, u
|, der date of June 9Th, that he will
obliged to conform to the ruling
!. the department, and writes furtht
that all cooperative work which
t. published by the United States geolo
ical survey will have to use the VOL
(. Neosho also He also says, II regr
this very much for l am thorough
satisfied that Grand river is the prop
J. name both historically and by usag
I have made two attempts to get Il
board to change its decision, but
h. no avail"
viii you not interest yourself in th
i matter? believe that letter or b.
ter still personal interview with t
s chairman of the board, Mr.. Henry Ga
nett of the United States geologic
Il. survey, would straighten matters ou
y crMATE CVDrnTc Dill