The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-07-17

river valley" the towns Directing to
that terminology are seeking to have
the river renamed During the re-
naming they likely will attempt to
secure a suitable name for their re-
gion, a name which will not neces-
sarily be dependent upon the big
river
citrate all of southern Idaho and its
northern feeders, the Salmon and
Clearwater, tap the great mining and
timber regions of the central part
of the state. Rising in the south
western part Of Yellowstone the
Snake runs 900 miles through south
ern Idaho, the greater part of which
distance it has cut through the great
lava beds. Where it leaves the state
at Lewiston it is 5000 feet below its
level where it crosses the state line
in the foothills OF. the Bitterroots. A
hundred miles below Lewiston it be-
comes lost in the Columbia. For
this reason the stream, in the main,
belongs entirely to Idaho.
Once Called Lewis River.
In the minds of most people, it
has always been the Snake, although
there are records extant showing it
once was called Lewis river, presum-
ably in honor of Meriweather Lewis,
the great explorer, and also the Sho-
shone river.
There have been in the last dozen
years several sporadic outbursts of
enthusiasm in favor of name to re-
place the Snake but none OF those
suggested had sufficient power to
catch the fancy of enough people to
make the move of more than passing
interest. Before those efforts gained
much momentum they were discour-
aged by opinions that any such ac-
ton would be impossible due to legal
ly all Of which are closely interlock-
ed with the Snake.
Although sentiment is strong
along this line, no definite plan for
progress has been outlined. The
question must be put before con-
gress. The preliminary part of the
move will be to crystalline sentiment
and present united front when ask
ing for the name change.
Committees from the federation
are working on the matter and from
them will come recommendations as
to the most desirable course to pur-
sue. 1t is we'll known, however, that
there is much dissatisfaction with the
name Snake" as they say it mis-
represents the entire country.
No new names have been proposed |
and 1t is probable that "Shoshone"
would stand an excellent chance to |
come back, despite the inevitable CO.
incidence that ''Shoshone" is believed |
to have come from the Indian work,
'Shishineowitz, which means Snake |
q term which the Cheyennes applied |
to the tribe ethnologists now call the
5hoshoni. The word 'Shoshone"
carries the romance that is wanted,
t is alliterative and therefore easy to
and does not leave a re-
,ulsive taste by inferring that pos
IDLY the region is snake-infested.
md pays tribute to the collective
RIDES that once owned western Wy
ming, Colorado, Utah and Idaho.
But again, a crossroad is met; the
'hoshoni Indians once were called
hem that the river was named. They
we're called the Snake Indians first
nd the name gradually gave way,
t is understood to ShOshoni; but
make as name for the river always
tuck.
Origin of Snake.
The Shoshonis, many contend,
,ere not called Snake Indians save
! vein of contempt by their un-
riendly neighbors The Shoshonis
ere the northern branch of the Sho-
honean stock, which embraced the
annock, Comanche, Hopi, Hawai-,
lutte, Ute and Shoshoni proper. The
factors of the Shoshoni
'ibe were the Bannocks, Piutes and
hoshoni. The Shoshoni and Ban
ocks, remnants of that once mighty
alton, are now on the Fort Hall
near Pocatello.
This activity against the name
Snake" inspires research into its
rigin. There are several reasons as
, why the Snake Indians were so
allied. 1t is recognized that the riv-
: was named after the Indians and
OF because the stream winds like
snake through the lava beds; for as
matter of fact, 1t is no more treach-
fous than any other stream. Had
lie Indians living along the stream
ad ceremonies similar to the snake
ance of the Hopis, the derivation
ould Immediately be plain, but
lere are no records of dances with
We rattlesnakes ever having been
by tribes of the Shoshoni
Early explorers found that the In
ans had a peculiar tribal sign. 1t
as made with the index finger and
osely resembled the wiggling of
lake. Another opinion is that it
as the outgrowth of variety of
eaying adopted in making the