The American Board on (jfeoc/raphlc Names. 39 



Germany have adopted substantially the same system of rules. 

 Recent publication.s from these countries evidence the intention 

 to apply them as rapidly as circumstances Avill permit. Although 

 we may rebel at first on seeing such familiar names as Cairo 

 spelled with a K, Mecca Avith double k, and Muscat converted 

 into Maskat, it is believed the general principles adopted will 

 eventually receive acquiescence — perhaps half-hearted at first — 

 and as the utility of the system becomes more apparent through 

 its universal adoption and we realize that maps from whatever 

 nation Avill give us the names of the same places in substantially 

 the same form, our prejudices must give way. 



Under the provisions of an executive order issued on the fourth 

 of September last, our own Government has virtually adopted the 

 European system in the treatment of foreign names, thus bring- 

 ing us in accord with the principal nations upon a most impor- 

 tant subject to students and geographers the world over. The 

 executive order constitutes a board composed of ten representa- 

 tives from different departments and bureaus of the Government 

 service, to which all questions relating to the work of the board 

 that may arise in the departments are to be referred, and re- 

 quires all persons in the Government service to respect the decis- 

 ions that may be rendered. The board in its first bulletin, re- 

 cently issued, has announced its adoption of the English system 

 for the treatment of foreign names and transliteration into Roman 

 characters, and has presented principles to guide in reaching de- 

 cisions affecting home names. These principles will doubtless 

 he added to as new questions arise, so that at no very distant 

 day we may see formulated a set of rules that will be instructive 

 as well as useful in their application. The first bulletin seems 

 to have been received favorably, and we may hope, as the work 

 of the board advances and the importance of the subject is more 

 generally realized, that it will gain the hearty endorsement of the 

 public and a support that must largely increase the usefulness 

 of its labors. 



In conclusion, permit me to congratulate the society upon its 

 first attempt at scientific exploration in the field. The Mount 

 St. Elias expedition, under the leadership of Mr. I. C Russell 

 with Mr. Mark B. Kerr as topograj^her, left Seattle, Washington, 

 in June last, and after spending more than two months on the 

 mountain sides, one-half their time above the snow line, have 



C — Nat. Geog. Mag., vol. Ill, 18 jl. 



