14 EEPOET OF THE UNITED STATES GEOGRAPHIC BOARD. 



names, particularly as shown in the dropping of silent letters. The 

 Board, recognizing this course of development, deems it to be 

 within its power to guide it and even to forestall it, so far as its 

 future course may be foreseen. 



The extent to which geographic names have been modified with- 

 out being radically changed is scarcely appreciated. A large pro- 

 portion, probably a majority, of the names of natural features 

 have undergone alterations in spelling to a greater or less extent 

 since they were first applied, while of the names of political divi- 

 sions, although established by formal act, a considerable proportion 

 have also changed, and such variations have, in thousands of cases, 

 become firmly established. Therefore, the position assumed by 

 some persons, that we should revert to the original forms of names, 

 would, if carried out, result in changing the names of a large pro- 

 portion of our natural and artificial features. 



POLICY OF THE BOARD. 



The Board is agreed that in general the name which is in com- 

 mon local use at present should be adopted. This is a broad, general 

 principle, and summarizes the policy of the Board, with the excep- 

 tion of certain classes of names. It covers cases of changes or cor- 

 ruptions of names, except where they are considered to be unworthy 

 of perpetuation. 



The Board clearly recognizes that the importance and value of 

 its decisions depend upon their general adoption. To change cor- 

 rupted forms back to pure forms, after the corrupted form has been 

 established, is to make a decision which will not be followed. Such 

 decisions are not merely useless ; they are positively harmful. They 

 tend not to settle but to unsettle usage. To restore such names as 

 Port Townsencl to Port Townshend, Pysht to Pysche, Ozan to Aux 

 anes, Low Freight to L'eau f rais, Sitka to Shitka, Possum to Opossum, 

 is not always possible, however desirable. The aim, therefore, 

 of the Board is to discover and support by its decisions the forms in 

 use in all cases, except those where specific and positive objections 

 thereto are found to exist. That it should always succeed in this 

 aim is obviously impossible. Changes are constantly occurring. The 

 Board can not if it would, and would not if it could, oppose change. 



The difficulties encountered in carrying out this principle are 

 found mainly in determining what is the established usage, or the 

 prevailing local practice where it is divided between different forms. 

 Where it is so divided, opportunity is afforded for the selection of 

 the more appropriate and euphonious of the names in use. 



