12 GEOGRAPHIC DICTIONARY OF ALASKA. [bull. 187. 



Treasury, and Interior departments. From these resulted large addi- 

 tions to .i>(>()oi'jiphic knowledge and to the list of names, especially of 

 features in the interior. The United States Geological Survey took 

 an active part in this interior exploration, and thus the Director 

 found urgent need of the dictionary as an aid in preparing and pub- 

 lishing reports on Alaska. Accordingly in June, 1900, he directed 

 the writer to complete it. Since that time the work has progressed 

 with little interruption to completion, and it was adopted by the 

 Board on Geographic Names on July 29, 1901. 



PLAN AND SCOPE. 



The plan of this dictionary is to show in one alphabetical list all the 

 pul)lished names which have been applied to geographic features in 

 Alaska. This includes obsolete as well as current names, and also a 

 few not previously published. It aims to show the origin, history, 

 modes of spelling, and application of each name, and in the cases of 

 Indian, Eskimo, and foreign names, their meaning also. And tinally 

 it shows, in l)old-faced type, the forms approved by the United States 

 Board on Geographic Names. Rejected, doubtful, and obsolete forms 

 are shown in italics. 



So comprehensive a scheme as this could not, from the nature of 

 the case, be completely realized. The attempt to discover and record 

 every name that has been used would require an expenditure of time 

 and energy far beyond the value of the result, and would, moreover, 

 fall short of absolute success. Nevertheless, thoroughness and com- 

 pleteness as well as accuracy have been steadily kept in view. The 

 work is brought down to about 1900. While it is an Alaskan diction- 

 ar}", a few names of features near but outside of Alaska are included. 

 Also, elevations are given, when known. 



The difficulties in executing this plan are deeper than the names. 

 In many cases the question is not What is the name? but, To what 

 does or should the name apply ? In the beginning of exploration there 

 is generally confusion and uncertainty as to the names and their appli- 

 cation, growing out of imperfect geographic knowledge. It is certain 

 that many of the recent names included herein will not survive, and 

 that local usage will have established forms not now known to the 

 writer. Thus a complete revision of this work W'ill l)e needed before 

 many years. Meanwhile, it is hoped that this dictionary will be found 

 helpful in establishing uniformity in the use of Alaska proper names. 



MODE OF PREPARATION. 



The work was begun in 1892 by copying on library cards the names 

 found on mother maps and charts, with indications of the maps from 

 which they were taken. This work was placed in the hands of a com- 

 mittee of two, appointed by the Board for the purpose, consisting of 



