The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-11-10
History of the Mountains Name

sec the mountain which stands sen.
tinel over the city.
Both names--Tacoma and Rainier
were used on all the old maps,
tho one Of the old geographIes---
the Mentally geography published
by New York house-gave only the
name Tacoma. But both names were
In general Use, either connected
with n hyphen or bracketed.
The Rainier Brewing Co. Of
Georgetown. near Seattle. was
manufacturing n brand Of beer
which II called .Rainier" and using
picture OF the mountain as a
trademark. Having spent n large
amount Of money In advertising
they wished TO avoid any possibility
OF the loss OF this publicity feature
owing 10 the elimination OF the name
"Itainier." 90 they arranged with
Watson G. Squire. then a United
States senator from the state Of
washington. TO 80 before the Ma.
tional Board OF Geographical names
at a secret meeting and have the
name '.Rainier" declared the official
name Of the mountain. This ms
a matter OF fact. the board Of geo
graphic names had no authority or
power 10 do. ms II II merely board
whose duties are to recommend
names for use In official publications
for the sake OF uniformity. It's de-.
cisions ar- not binding on anyone
and In many cases no attention
whatever is paid TO than.
Several members Of the board
stated NJ the last hearing in regard
To the name OF the mountain that
the people who lived nearest the
mountain and whose money had gone
into improvements. such as roads,
hotels. etc. had the right to say by
what name the mountain should be
called.
And this In what we contend that,
having spent several million dollars
in opening up and improving roads
no as to make this great scenic play.
ground accessible 20 the tourists. and
inasmuch as the mountain stands
in our own dooryard. In our own
county and We hear liz euphonious
Indian name ~ would be poor In
spirit and towards af heart II after
making this long fight Of over 4
quarter Of century we should At
this late day throw up our hands
and quit when We believe we have
every argument Of justice. tradition.
history. euphony. etc. In our favor.
We do not believe outside OF 4 few
prcjudiced. stubborn old men who
were party to the original wrong
committed In this matter. who were
actuated by civic jealousy. fearing
that II would be Of some benefit to
Tacoma TO bear the. same name as
the mountain. and also to safeguard
the trademark of = brewery. there
are many citizens OF Seattle who
care very much either one way or
another by what name the mountain
u called.
This long -drawn-out controversy
has been = great drawback to de-.
velopment Of tho Pacific Northwesf.
as Il has prevented the railroads and
various publicity agencies from giv-
ing proper publicity to this great na-
tionai playground. and in other ways
has done much TO retard the develop
ment Of this section Of the country.
Tho controversy ought TO be settled.
but II can never be settled until II
IL settled right Seattle can never
hope 70 secure the cooperation Of tn,
coma uniii this wrong In righted. II
should follow the good advice Of The
Star several years ago-"LET IA.
COMA NAME THE MOUNTAIN,
HERES A FINE BIO OPPORTUN-
rTY FOR SEATTLE TO DO A
FINE. BIO THINGr'
II Seattle 10 In earnest and In act.
ing In good faith In her desire for
cooperation here In an opportunity
to show her good faith by her
dccds. and ~ the great Lincoln
would have done under similar cir.
cumstances. restore in whole and not
IN part. Respectfully.
cdrsJ NJ. O. MITCHELL,
Tacoma. Wash.