18 REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES GEOGRAPHIC BOARD. 
Names of living persons should be applied very rarely, and only 
those of great eminence should be thus honored. No personal 
names should be attached because of relationship, friendship, or 
personal interest, nor should names of obscure persons be given. 
Names of eminent men now dead may be thus perpetuated, par- 
ticularly those of early explorers, naturalists, geologists, topog- 
raphers, etc. 
Long and clumsily constructed names and names composed of two 
or more words should be avoided. It is a foregone conclusion that 
such names will not be adopted by the public. If the name selected 
consists of more than one word the words should be combined if 
practicable. 
The multiplication of names for different parts of the same fea- 
ture, such as a river or mountain range, should be avoided. Only 
one name should be apphed to a stream or mountain range through- 
out its entire length; in the case of a river the name should follow 
up its longest branch. 
The naming of forks, prongs, branches, etc., as "East Fork" or 
"North Prong" of a river, should be avoided unless there is a special 
reason for it. In most cases, independent names should be given to a 
river's branches. 
That spelUng and pronunciation which is sanctioned by local 
usage should, in general, be adopted. 
Where names have been changed or corrupted, and such changes 
or corruptions have become established by local usage, it is not 
usuallv advisable to attempt to restore the original form. 
In cases where what was evidently originally the same word ap- 
pears with various spellings sanctioned by local usage, when apphed 
to various features, these various spelUngs should be regarded as 
in effect different names, and, as a rule, it is inadvisable to attempt 
to produce uniformity. 
Where a choice is offered between two or more names for the 
same place or locaUty, all sanctioned by local usage, that which is 
most appropriate and euphonious should be adopted. 
The possessive form should be avoided whenever it can be done 
without destroying the euphony of the name or changing its descrip- 
tive application. 
In names ending in "burgh" the final "h" should be dropped. 
Names ending in "borough" should be abbreviated to "boro." 
The word "center," as part of a name, should be spelled as above 
and not "centre." 
The use of hyphens in connecting parts of names should be dis- 
continued. 
