12 SECOND EEPOKT OF U. S. BOARD ON GEOGEAPHIC NAMES. 
In response to this letter favorable replies were received from the 
Hydrographic Office in the Navy Department, the Geological Survey 
in the Interior Department, the Corps of Engineers in the War Depart- 
ment, the Light-House Board in the Treasury Department, the 
Smithsonian Institution, and the National Geographic Society. 
On March 18, 1890, the first and organizing meeting was held in the 
office of the Superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, there 
being present T. C. Mendenhall, Superintendent Coast and Geodetic 
Survey; Herbert G. Ogden, assistant. Coast and Geodetic Survey; 
Lieut. Richardson Clover, U. S. N., hydrographer, Navy Department; 
Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, War Department; Henry 
Gannett, Geological Survey; Capt. Henry L. Howison, U. S. N., 
Light-House Board, and Prof. Otis T. Mason, Smithsonian Institution. 
Mr. Mendenhall called the meeting to order, stated its objects, and 
withdrew, whereupon he was unanimously invited to return and serve 
as a member of the Board. He accepted, returned, and was chosen 
chairman, and Mr. Clover secretary. To this body of seven, three 
other persons were soon added, viz, Andrew H. Allen, of the State 
Department; Pierson H. Bristow, of the Post-Office Department, and 
Marcus Baker, of the National Geographic Society. 
Subsequent meetings were held April 23, May 6, and June 3, at 
which the scope of work to be done, the methods to be employed, 
principles to be adopted, and the character of organization were con- 
sidered and agreed upon. It was soon apparent that progress in secur- 
ing the reforms aimed at could be hastened by making the Board an 
official one. Accordingly the matter was brought to the attention of 
President Harrison, who, on September 4, 1890, issued the Executive 
order printed on page 6. 
Under that order the volunteer or departmental board met at the 
Navy Department October 7, 1890, and formally organized as the 
present United States Board on Geographic Names. The original 
membership is set forth in the Executive order. 
In the early history of the Board much time was given to discussing 
principles and modes of procedure. In some instances an entire meet- 
ing was given over to discussion, not a single decision resulting. 
Gradually, however, progress was made in establishing principles and 
methods of procedure. At present these are well established and the 
decisions promptly reached after the necessary facts touching the 
names considered have been gathered and tabulated. 
Originally the Board was composed of ten members. Its present 
membership is twelve, of whom five were original members. The mem- 
bership, past and present, together with departments, bureaus, offices, 
and institutions represented, is set forth in the following table: 
