F^2 [From the; American Anthropologist for January, 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. A Report. In considering a system of nomenclature it is essential to remember that a name may be a description or a mere label. Originally all or nearly all nouns were descriptive, conveying in concise form some idea of the distinguishing peculiarity of the thing named, so that one who had never seen the object could still know something of its nature from hearing its name. In primitive languages nouns still retain tin's characteristic, and can usually be resolved by analysis into their adjective and verbal elements. This is true in a less degree of the early Greek and Latin, but age has sapped the blood of our words until they have largely become mere arbitrary symbols. The change has come alike upon common nouns, zoologic and botanic names, and personal and geographic names. Without going into a detailed argument, we may assume that where individu- ality exists it may be expressed in the name, but where all things are alike a mere label is sufficient. The streets and alleys c f a city, with their straight lines, level pavements, and rows of brick walls, are practically alike, but in the country every hill and every running brook has its own separate individuality. Street and Alley Names. With regard to names for streets and other city thoroughfares there is an evident advantage in having the name indicate the rela- tive position, and the most obvious method of accomplishing this is by means of a system of nomenclature which is numeric or alpha- betic or both. The numbers may run on indefinitely, but the alphabet has a limit, so that if an alphabetic system be adopted it is necessary to start a new series when the streets go beyond twenty-six. Washington, as originally laid out, consists of four sections, with the Capitol in the center. North and South Capitol streets form the dividing line between the eastern and western portions, while East Capitol street and a theoretic West Capitol street running through the Mall separate the northern and southern portions. The . fa* 30 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. V 1 - four sections, which are designated respectively as northwest, north- east, southeast, and southwest, are very unequal in extent. The original District was a tract of ten miles square on both sides of the Potomac, taken partly from Maryland and partly from Virginia. The Virginia portion, extending along the river from the Chain bridge to Alexandria, was afterward retroceded, thus cutting off about one-fourth this area. As originally planned, the site of the Washington monument was the center of the District, whereas by this change it is now on its southwestern limit, the Potomac river. The streets within the city are laid out at right angles, crossed by avenues running diagonally ; and, by a recent ruling of Congress, as the city grows these streets must be extended upon the same lines, wherever possible, to the limits of the District. Therefore, what- ever system of street nomenclature is adopted within the city must be one that can be adapted without change to the requirements of its future growth as here indicated. Briefly stated, it is possible for the future city of Washington, according to the present delimita- tions of the District, to extend from six to seven miles north, east, and west from the Capitol. The southwest is cut off by the river and can expand no farther, while the southeast, including Anacostia, is capable of a limited expansion toward the south. Under the present system the streets are numbered east and west ..win the Capitol and lettered north and south from the same start- ing point, while the diagonal avenues are named from states of the Union. Thus we have two series of numbered streets — First street east and First street west, etc., and two series of lettered streets — A street north and A street south, etc. It is necessary always to specify the section as well as the street — as 215 D street northwest — which is a disadvantage, but is rendered necessary by the quadruple plan of the city. On the whole, the system is simple and con- venient, besides giving opportunity for future growth, and the problem now before the District Commissioners is how to extend it to the new streets to be laid out beyond the present city limits. The numbered streets run out to Twenty-third east and to Thirty- seventh west (in Georgetown), and as future parallel streets can be numbered onward consecutively we may consider the numbered streets provided for. In this series, however, we find a few short streets, running each only two or three squares and called by frac- tional names to indicate their relative position, as Four-and-a-half street, Thirteen-and-a-half street. .. : Jan. 1S93.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 31 The system of naming the diagonal avenues after States of the Union is entirely satisfactory, and as there are a sufficient number of States to furnish names for all future avenues we may also dismiss the avenue question. As the avenues intersect at all angles, there can be no rule by which the name shall indicate the position. It might be better if Florida avenue were divided at Seventh street, making two avenues under different names instead of one as at present, at the same time straightening the western portion as far as practicable toward Seventh street at one end and Massachusetts avenue extended at the other, so that this portion might be approx- imately parallel with New York and Rhode Island avenues, while the eastern portion would be approximately parallel with Massa- chusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia avenues. We come now to the most difficult problem in street nomen- clature — the naming of the present (lettered) streets running east and west and of future streets to be laid out parallel with them. Before going into this matter let us define the various classes of streets as recognized or contemplated by the Commissioners. In the first place, the broad thoroughfares running diagonally through the city are called avenues. Next, the thoroughfares cross- ing each other at regular intervals in either direction are called streets. Then we have shorter streets, running perhaps for a square or two, midway between the longer streets of the regular series. Some of these are at present called streets, as " Corcoran street ; " others are known as places, as "Grant place." It is proposed by the District Commissioners to distinguish all these as places, giving to them at the same time such names as will indicate their position with relation to the regular lettered series. The present " Grant place" is a good illustration of the proposed method. The title place indicates that it is a short street intermediate between two of the regular series, while the name Grant, beginning with G, shows that it is next to G street. The short streets in the numbered series would take fractional names, as Four-and-a-half street, Thirteen-and- a-half street, or might better be called " places," to agree with the nomenclature of the short streets in the lettered series, and could be designated by numbers corresponding with those of the streets next following — e. g., Fifth place, Fourteenth place, etc. We have still a fourth class of inhabited city thoroughfares, viz., alleys, which by the growth of population have come to be tenanted by families of the poorer class and are now practically smaller streets. Many of them 32 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. are now well paved and built up with good houses. It is proposed to designate these as courts, reserving the name alley for the smaller thoroughfares, which are used as passages but not for residences. In the renaming, most of these courts will become places, so that the choice of names for the few remaining will be a simple matter. It should be noted that when two or more places are on the same line, even though the continuity is broken by intervening solid squares, they will be called by the same name. Within the present city limits the initial letter of a " place" would naturally be the same as the letter constituting the name of the regular street imme- diately following it. Future streets should be laid out at such con- venient intervals as to render shorter "places" unnecessary. Unin- habited alleys can be designated by means of the nearest streets. The poor will thus be relieved of the necessity of considering them- selves as mere alley refuse, and we shall be rid of the abominable names which now disgrace our city directory, and which are deroga- tory to the dignity of manhood, for though good may come out of Nazareth, it is hard to imagine it as coming out of Bedbug alley. On August 27, 1 888, Congress approved "An act to regulate the subdivision of land within the District of Columbia." The most important section of this bill is section 5, which provides that "No future subdivision of land in the District of Columbia, without the limits of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, shall be recorded in the surveyor's office of the said District unless made in conformity with the general plan of the city of Washington." As a result of this the District Commissioners, on December 6, 1888, issued a series of "General Orders" in regard to streets and subdivisions in the District. These orders embody the fruits of careful study of the question by practical men familiar with the requirements of the case and the difficulties to be overcome. The sections which bear most upon the point at issue are as follows : 7. No subdivision ofland outside the cities of Washington and George- town will be approved unless the streets aud avenues therein conform as far as practicable in width and general direction to the same streets and avenues in the city of Washington. 8. Whenever practicable, streets aud avenues will be in exact align- ment with the streets aud avenues of the city of Washington and of equal width. 20. The names of all avenues, streets, circles, and public spaces will be subject to the approval of the Commissioners. 21. The following scheme for naming these will be adhered to : Jan. 1S93.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 33 22. The broad diagonal highways will be designated as avenues and will be named after the States of the Union. 23. Streets running north and south will be numbered each way from the meridian of the Capitol. If the streets are not direct continuations of the city streets, their names will correspond with the city streets most nearly due north or south of them. 24. Streets running east and west will be named from the letters of the alphabet until these letters are exhausted. Beyond this they will be named after the principal cities of America, the names of which com- mence with the letters of the alphabet in their proper order of rotation, as Albany street, Baltimore street, Chicago street, Detroit street, etc., etc. When the alphabet is thus exhausted the succeeding streets will be named for the principal rivers and lakes of America, the names of which commence with the letters of the alphabet in proper rotation, as Albemarle street, Brazos street, Champlain street, Des Moines street, etc. 25. Streets not in exact aligume-nt with those to the east or west of them will take the names of those streets most nearly in the line of their direct continuation. 26. Small streets which do not form an essential part of the rectangu- lar system of streets will be designated as "places," and will receive such names as may be approved by the Commissioners. 27. No two streets, avenues, or places in the District of Columbia shall have the same name. 28. Circles and other public spaces will be named after distinguished Americans who have been prominent in the service of their country. We have here provision for three alphabetic series of street names, viz., letters, American cities, and American lakes and rivers, suffi- cient to furnish names for possible streets as far out to the north as a line drawn west from Takoma Park station, leaving about ten or twelve possible streets beyond unprovided for. The lettered streets as now existing end with W, at Florida avenue, omitting J, which is discarded on account of its resemblance in manuscript to I. The letter series, however, although of long standing, has many enemies on account of its baldness. One writer, in a letter to the Com- missioners on this subject, refers to it as " utilitarianism run mad." As far back as 1886 a bill had been introduced into the Senate proposing to substitute for letters two alphabetic series of names of distinguished Americans, taking for the north the names of states- men and for the south the names of commanders in the army or navy. Thus, for A, JB, C, and D streets it was proposed to substitute Adams, Benton, Clay, and Douglas streets. More recently a plan was proposed for distinguishing the lettered streets south by names of women. The list started off very well 5 34 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. with Bertha, Diana, and Florence, but when it got down to Kath- leen, Ophelia, Priscilla, and Sophia the originators of the scheme fled in horror from the thing they had created. Still another plan, now under contemplation, is to use letters only to designate the short " place " streets already referred to, having the letter in each case to correspond with the initial of the name of the parallel street immediately preceding it,* and to use for all other streets running east and west different series of alphabeti- cal names sufficient to furnish names for all such possible streets to the bounds of the District. It is proposed to stop at W, the re- maining letters being difficult to handle, and to have distinct series north and south of the central line of the city. This would neces- sitate seven alphabetic series or parts of series of names, four north and three south, of which it is contemplated that the first, north, shall consist of the names of distinguished Americans, to take the place of the present letter names ; the second to be names of Ameri- can 'cities, the third American rivers and lakes, the fourth or partial series unprovided for. For the letter names south the scheme con- templates, first, a series of tree and plant names instead of the present letter names, to be followed by another series and a frac- tional series unprovided for to extend to the southernmost corner of the District. It is claimed that this arrangement would discriminate at once between north and south, and thus obviate the need of the N. or S. in letter addresses, while it would also show how far from the center any point might be located. The objections to it, however, are fatal. We cannot get rid of the E. and W. in letter addresses, and experi- ence has shown that there is greater liability to forgetfulness where only one letter is used than when two must be considered. There is no good reason why we should have different series north and south when we have only one system of numbers east and west, and are consequently obliged to take the sectional abbreviation con- stantly into our calculation. It is practically impossible to formulate seven alphabetic series of names that shall be entirely distinct and otherwise satisfactory and not be forced and ridiculous in places on account of the very limita- tions of the case. Certain letters do not fit well in alphabetic series, * It would be preferable to designate places by the names of the next following streets in order to avoid the difficulty of uamiug the places below A and First streets. Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 35 while for certain other letters there are always a number of candi- dates equally worthy of a place. This is especially true of any alphabetic series of "distinguished Americans." Under certain letters there is a redundancy of candidates, all equally deserving of commemoration, while under other letters it is impossible to find names, excepting those of persons so obscure as to be practically unknown. It is absurd to commemorate a man simply because his name chances to begin with a K or a V. The circle and other park monuments are the proper mediums by which to commemorate our great men, and this distinction should be reserved for those who are really great, and as there is always a wide diversity of opinion in such matters, the honors should be awarded only by a national legislative body. We may suggest that men who have enriched our country by their writings, explorations, and inventions as much deserve monumental honors as our generals and politicians. A modification of the " distinguished American " plan proposed was to have four such series, one for each section, so that the name should indicate the section without the addition of a suffix. To accomplish this it was intended to have one series consist of names of military commanders, another of naval commanders, a third of statesmen, and a fourth of authors, inventors, etc. The objection to this is that it assumes for our entire population, including those of foreign birth, a knowledge of American biography possessed by few even of our educated citizens. As the sectional system of street distinction entails certain un- avoidable difficulties, it may be asked why it is not better to get rid of it entirely by numbering the streets in a single concentric series from east to west of the District, and using some different series in the other direction in regular succession from one boundary to the other, instead of making every series start from the Capitol as a central point? The answer to this is that we must make provision for the possibility, and even probability, that at no very distant period the Federal city will cover not only the whole of the present District, but a great part of the adjoining territory. Artificial boundaries cannot confine the growth of a great city, still less of a national capital, and we may look forward to the day when the numerous suburban villages springing up all around Washington will form parts of one great whole under Federal jurisdiction. A system of street nomenclature which makes the Capitol the starting- point is the only one adapted to meet the possibilities of such future 36 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. growth in every direction. Whenever the time comes to readjust the District boundaries the lines should coincide with the direction of the cardinal points, which is not the case at present. Another proposition is to discard the alphabetic system entirely and use a numeral system instead, calling the streets running north and south First street, Second street, etc., as at present, and calling those at right angles with them First avenue, Second avenue, etc., to the limits of the District. This plan possesses the merit of ex- treme simplicity, and enables the stranger at once to ascertain his distance from a given point, which he cannot do under a system made up of several alphabetic series without knowing the order of the several series and making an intricate calculation in addition. For instance, he would know that the distance from Fourth avenue to Fortieth avenue was 36 squares north or south just as certainly and readily as he would know that from Fourth street to Fortieth street was 36 squares east or west, whereas to know how far Maple street might be from Atlanta street he would have to know the proper arrangement of the alphabetic city, river, and tree series, and then perform an intricate operation in subtraction and addition upon the three series to get the distance. This plan overcomes the practical difficulties in the way of inventing and arranging alpha- betic series — difficulties which increase with each successive series demanded — and is capable of unlimited extension without change to accommodate any future growth of the city. It is in practical operation to a limited extent in the great commercial city of New York. The liability to confusion between the numbered streets and the numbered avenues is not as great as the liability to confusion under four or more different alphabetic systems. The State names applied to the diagonal avenues sufficiently indicate their distinctive character. The committee would suggest the retention of the present system of duplicate numbered streets running north and south and of the present existing duplicate lettered streets running east and west, and that all streets running parallel with the present lettered streets be known in future as numbered avenues, beginning with First avenue and continuing in regular succession. Possibly it might be wiser to begin with Twenty-third avenue, in order to more readily extend the system of the present lettered streets, should such a course ever seem desirable. It would be unwise to lengthen the names of the present lettered Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 37 streets. Besides the confusion which such a wholesale change would necessarily entail for a long time, the present simple letter names are the shortest that can be devised, and any other series would require a constant additional expenditure of valuable time in addressing letters and indicating locations. The difference to a business man between writing a single letter of the alphabet and writing a whole word of eight or ten letters every time he has occa- sion to address a correspondent is something considerable in a few days or a week, and when we extend this difference to a whole city, with its population of a quarter of a million, it becomes enormous. If the adoption of a system of numbered avenues beyond a par- allel with the "present lettered streets should appear impracticable, the committee would suggest as an alternative duplicate alphabetic series of names for such streets running east and west beyond W street, the first series to consist of names of American cities, the second of American rivers, lakes, etc., and the third (partial series) of names of trees and plants. This is sufficient to furnish names for all such future streets to the present limits of the District, and the system may be extended if circumstances in time to come should demand it. The duplicate system conforms to the present method in use for both numbered and lettered streets, and abbreviates the necessity for too great multiplicity of series. In a system of city nomenclature based upon the alphabet there is a logical reason in beginning with the alphabet itself and proceeding successively to cities, next to natural geographic features, and then to natural productions. We may now consider the essential requisites of the names to be selected. The chief requirement is that they shall be such as can be readily pronounced, or written upon a letter address, without unnecessary labor or loss of time or liability to error ; therefore they should be smooth sounding, reasonably short, and the spelling should indicate'the pronunciation according to the ordinary rules of English orthography. This last proviso would bar out such names as Agassiz, Des Moines, and l'Enfant, however much we might desire to commemorate the originals. Double names, such as New Orleans or St. Clair, are also to be avoided. K, N, Z, and U are always difficult letters to fill in an alphabetic series, and conse- quently there is little room for choice where they are concerned. The following lists of names are submitted for the several series proposed : 38 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. First Series. — Letters of the Alphabet. The present system of letters of the alphabet from A to W, omit- ting J, to remain unchanged. Second Series. — American Cities. In 18S9 the following series of city names was prepared in the Engineer Department of the District Office: Albany. Baltimore. Cincinnati. Detroit. Emporia. Frankfort. Galveston. Hartford. Indianapolis. Joliet. Keokuk. Lowell. Milwaukee. Newark. Omaha. Philadelphia. Quincy. Richmond. Savannah. Trenton. Utica. Vallejo. Wilmington. Xeuia. Yuma. Zauesville. To this list, which runs out to the end of the alphabet, there are several objections. Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia are too long, Newark is too nearly like New York, and Savannah is the name of a river as well as of a city. Lowell and Quincy are liable to be confounded with any series of "distinguished Americans" that might be adopted. The long sound of U in Utica is objec- tionable on account of its resemblance to Yu, and Vallejo is liable to mispronunciation. For this series we would suggest the following: : Atlanta or Albany. Baltimore. Charleston or Chester. Detroit. Lola or Iuka. Joliet. Kingston. Lansing or Louisville. Emporia. Frankfort. Galena or Galveston. Hartford. Monterey or Montreal. Newport or Nashville. Oakland or Omaha. Portland. Quebec Richmond. Salem or Springfield. Toledo or Topeka. Urbana. Vandalia or Vicksburg. Wilmington. Albemarle. Biloxi. Chesapeake. Dolores (in Colorado, 250 miles long). Erie. Fresno. Gasconade. Huron. Third Series. — American Rivers, etc. Itasca. Roanoke. Juniata. Sciota or Santee. Kennebec. Tahoe or Tallapoosa. Lehigh. Uugara (in Labrador) or Miami. Umatilla. Niagara. Vermilion. Ontario. Wabash. Potomac. Quinebaug. . Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 39 Fourth Series. — Trees and Plants. Azalea or Aspeu. Grape or Goldenrod. Maple or Magnolia. Buckeye or Beech. Holly or Hazel. Nopal. Chestnut. Ivy. Oak or Olive. Dahlia or Dogwood. Juniper. Poplar or Pine. Elm or Elder. Kalmia. Fern. Laurel or Linden. As these are sufficient to name all the streets of this series, the list need not be carried farther. Circles. In addition to the existing circles at the intersections of avenues within or adjacent to the present city boundaries it is intended to have similar small reservations, of circular, elliptical, or other con- venient shape, at the intersections of all avenues to be laid out within the District in the future, and also at the points where the avenues shall meet the future avenue or boulevard which is intended to form the boundary of the District on its three land sides. It is intended that each of these small reservations shall ultimately be the site of a monument erected in honor of some distinguished American, as is already the case with many of the existing circles. These reserva- tions will naturally be known by the names of the personages com- memorated by the monuments erected upon them, in continuance of the existing custom. As state names are reserved for avenues, the name of Iowa circle should be changed to conform to the regular plan of circle nomenclature. Bridges. There is no reason why the name of the Aqueduct bridge should be changed, as has been urged, to Free bridge. The present name is the more euphonious as well as the more distinctive, for all bridges within the District are, or should be, free. The Long bridge must always remain as it has always been, distinctively the long bridge. In other cases bridges should be named from the roads of which they are a part or the streams which they span. In naming bridges over small streams within the parks, a bridge across Cascade run or Ivy brook might appropriately be called Cascade bridge or Ivy bridge instead of Cascade Run bridge or Ivy Brook bridge, and so on . 40 i THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. Suburban Roads and Villages. It is unnecessary to plan an elaborate system of names for the suburban villages and roads of the District, as with the growth of the city the villages will be absorbed, while most of the roads will be made to conform more nearly to established city thoroughfares, the names of which they will then assume, or will be wiped out alto- gether. In the meantime, a k\v suggestions are in order. Regular thoroughfares outside of cities are commonly known as turnpikes or pikes, roads, and lanes. A turnpike or pike is simply a road along which at intervals are erected turnpike gates at which toll is collected for the privilege of passing over the road. The term lane implies something more hemmed in and narrower than the ordinary road, and in this sense is frequently used to denote a passageway leading up from the main road to a country residence. There is a pleasant suggestion of fresh flowers and green hedge-rows in the name that renders it peculiarly appropriate for use in con- nection with a number of driveways that may hereafter, be laid out in the Zoological or Rock Creek park. The smaller park roadways, too narrow to permit the passage of vehicles, may appropriately be designated as paths or walks, both names alike having an agreeable woodland flavor. Pikes and other country roads are usually known by the names ot the principal towns, streams, or other features along their lines, as the Bladensburg road, Broadbranch road, Piercemill road, etc. Many of our District roads, following the old colonial fashion, take their names from the early proprietors of the estates through which they ran, as the Carroll road, the Blair road, and so on. Theoret- ically the name of a road should indicate its objective point or gen- eral direction, but this is not often practicable within the District, owing to the irregular configuration of the surface. Road names, like those of streets, should be reasonably short and not liable to mispronunciation or apprehension, and to avoid re- dundancy those roads which are approximately continuous along the same line should have the same name. In accord with this idea several changes might be made with advantage. Loughboro road. — This name is liable both to mispronunciation and misreading. On one map it appears as Longboro. The name does not indicate the terminus or direction of the road and should Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 41 be discarded and the road considered a part of the Ridge road or of the other of which it is a continuation. Foxall road. — This is another name for the Ridge road (west). On one map it appears as Fox Hall. Two names are unnecessary. It would be better to restrict the name Foxhall to the part below the New-Cut road. New- Cut road. — Compound names are objectionable. It would be better, if possible, to select a simple name which would not suggest a time period. Woodley-Lane road. — The name is tautologic. To conform to the general system, it should be called Woodley road. Quarry road. — This road was so called from the former quarry at its terminus on Rock creek. As it is now the main thoroughfare to the Zoological park, it might appropriately be called the Park road. Linnean-Hill road should be abbreviated to Linnean road. Military road. — There are two roads of this name, a fact which sometimes leads to confusion. Some other name should be given to one of the two. Rock- Creek-Ford road. — This road is practically abandoned and the name should be dropped from the maps. Rock- Creek- Church road. — This name is too long, besides being liable to be confounded with that of the obsolete road last men- tioned. As the old church from which it takes its name has now no apparent connection with the creek, it would be better to call this simply the Church road. Fourteenth-Street road. — As this road bends around until it runs into Seventh street at Brightwood, the name is inappropriate. Beyond Brightwood its most direct continuation is the Piney-Branch road, which as at present defined is entirely cut off from Piney branch, while "Fourteenth-Street road" crosses this stream. It would be better to consider both as constituting one road under an appropriate name beyond the bend from the direct line of Fourteenth street. The name Piney road is suggested. Brightwood avenue. — If this road is to be considered a continua- tion of Seventh street, it should be called Seventh street or, for the present, Seventh-street road. If it is to be an avenue it should be named from a state, in accordance with the general plan. 6 42 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. Columbia road. — This is now practically within the city and should be called either an avenue or a street, with a name to accord with the general plan. The present name is, moreover, a duplica- tion, having also been sometimes applied to the Bladensburg road. Bladensburg road. — As just stated, this has also been called Co- lumbia road and is so marked on some maps. The first name is better for several reasons and should be officially adopted. Queen's Chapel road. — This name would be better as one word without the apostrophe. Ridge road (east). — This name, applied to a road east of Ana- costia river, is a duplication of a name given to another west of Georgetown. To avoid confusion, one of them should be given a different name. Eastern Branch or Anacostia road — should be simply Anacostia road. Columbia boulevard. — This would seem the most appropriate name for the future grand avenue or boulevard to form the boundary of the District of Columbia on the three land sides, leaving the Poto- mac as the boundary on the fourth. It is to be supposed that the character of the road will justify the use of the term boulevard. Streams, Elevations, and Country Seals. Streams (natural) are variously designated as rivers, creeks, branches, forks, runs, or brooks, according to size or local habits of nomenclature. A river is commonly understood to be a stream of the largest size, and a brook one of the smallest, while creeks, branches, or runs are understood to occupy intermediate positions. There is, however, no fixed line of demarcation, and the use of the terms is largely indiscriminate and varies according to locality. In the West a creek may be defined as a stream of the second class — i. e., a stream somewhat smaller than what would be known as a river in the same neighborhood — while in tide-water Maryland and Virginia the term is commonly used to denote a tidal estuary. In the West also the term branch is but seldom used, creek or fork taking its place, while the term run is practically unknown. When names are made official, however, there should be a system. The Potomac is universally recognized as a river, and the stream formerly called the Eastern branch is now also officially designated Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 43 as a river, the Anacostia. The more important tributaries of these rivers may be designated as creeks ; lesser tributaries and the princi- pal tributaries of creeks may be called branches, and streams of the smallest size may be distinguished as runs or brooks. Thus we have river, creek, branch, and run or brook as designations for four classes of streams, from the largest to the smallest, that need be indicated upon an ordinary map. For illustration, a brook flows into Piney branch, which in turn flows into a larger stream, Rock creek, and this flows into the largest stream, the Potomac river. A few of the streams within the District have recognized names which may well stand, only making the designation conform to the system indicated, where this is not already the case. A number of others have been named by Prof. Lester F. Ward in accordance with their botanic or physical characteristics, and some of these names appear on a map printed with his work on the District flora, published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1881. Many of them are in every way appropriate and may well be adopted. For other streams names may be selected from the lists herewith appended. It might be well also to commemorate in this manner some of the early explorers of the region when the names are sufficiently distinctive. A few prominent ridges and other elevations should have names, but it is unnecessary to go very far in this direction, in view of the probability that with the extension of the city streets nearly "every valley shall be filled and every mountain made low." Every hill formerly crowned by a fort should be called by the name of that fort, if the hill itself is to remain, as Stevenson hill, Bunker hill, etc., and the historic fact should be further commemorated by an inex- pensive monument. Many names will be suggested by the particular characteristics of the place. For the rest selections may be made from the appended lists. Villa sites will be named according to the tastes of their owners, and this part of the subject is hardly a matter for official notice. In most cases the good sense and refinement of this class of proprietors may safely be trusted to work out pleasing results. To those in need of suggestions the appended lists offer a wide range for selection. A few miscellaneous local features, such as springs, ponds, level stretches and bends in streams, will need names, especially within the Zoological and Rock Creek parks. We have nothing within the District which can be called a lake, but custom has made the term appropriate for artificial ponds in public parks. The word is 44 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. also euphonious on account of the liquid /. For such small bodies of water the terms lake or pond may be used. Cliff, bluff and promontory, cascade and falls are all appropriate in their places. Grove, for small bodies of timber in parks, etc., is better than forest or wood. In every case the geographic name should be euphonious, and not too long, and where it has a meaning the idea conveyed should be pleasant and appropriate. To be most euphonious a name should consist of a regular succession of vowel and consonant or liquid sounds without redundancy or awkward combinations of either ; the elemental sounds themselves should be euphonious, and in words of more than two syllables the accent, as a rule, should fall on the last syllable or the penult. The liquids /, ;/, and r tend always to euphonic effect. Botanic and biologic terms from the Latin and Greek are almost always euphonious and may appropriately be used when not too long. The Powhatan language, formerly spoken by the aborigines of the District and adjacent territory, abounds in musical terms combining the sonorous character of the northern languages with the soft vocalic syllables of the south. Rappahan- nock, Susquehanna, Potomac, Chesapeake, Roanoke, Powhatan, tomahawk, and moccasin are all from this language and show the character of its phonology. Philologic, ethnologic, and antiquarian considerations demand that we should preserve what remains of the names and language of our aborigines, and there can be no more practical way of accomplishing this result than by conferring these names, whenever appropriate, upon the streams and hills within their ancient domain. Names indicating the fauna and flora of the District are also peculiarly appropriate, either in the scientific or the popular form, as well as names based upon geologic features, etc., as Mitellarun, Mistletoe valley, Snowbird spring, Firefly ridge, Mica bluff, etc. It would be obviously out of place to use the names of plants or animals not native to the District, or the names of the larger animals, which have been so long extinct in this region as to be practically foreign to it. A number of appropriate names will also be suggested by the picturesque character of the country. A few old homestead names from across the water may be retained on account of their antiquarian associations, but as far as possible the District names should be distinctively local and American. Family names for natural geographic nomenclature should be tabooed entirely. Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 45 Selected Names from Ward's Nomenclature of the Rock Creek Region. Rocket run. — Entering Rock creek from the west a short distance above Oak Hill cemetery. So named from the abundance along its banks of the rocket plant {Hesperis matronalis), rare elsewhere in the District. Conopholis ridge. — A high ridge between two streams entering the creek on the same side a little farther up. So named from the abun- dance of the Conopholis Americana. The English names of the plant, cancer root and squaw root, are obviously inappropriate. Aralia run. — Farther up on the north side of the creek. From the Aralia spinosa or Hercules club found growing here and almost no place elsewhere in the District. Mitella run. — Entering the creek from the north not far below Woodley Dane bridge. From the abundance of Mitella diphylla or Bishop's Cap. Checkerberry bluff. — On the northwest bank of Rock creek, at the great bend near the Holt house and the present headquarters of the Zoological park. So named from the presence there of the Gaul- theria procumbens or checkerberry. Mistletoe valley. — The ravine through which runs the Quarry road, which leads to the principal entrance of the Zoological park. So called from the occurrence of the mistletoe on several of the sour-gum trees growing in it, especially on its southern slope. Violet ridge. — The gravelly ridge between the two branches of the small stream which enters Rock creek from the east near the entrance to the Zoological park. So named from the abundance upon it of the Viola pedata or birdfoot violet. Valerian bluff. — On north side of the creek, near the upper end of the Zoological park. From the abundance here of the Polemonitim reptans or Greek valerian. Cascade run.—" Here the Zoological park ends and the Rock Creek park begins, and the fine stream that comes in from the west is my Cas- cade run, so named from the cascade that it has formed. This is one of the finest natural cataracts in the Rock creek region." Poplar bottom. — On the left bank, in the bend just below Pierce's mill. Soapstone run. — A tributary of Broad branch. "From the well-known soapstoue quarry " near its head. Wiutergreen ridge. — A ridge or promontory on the north bank of Rock creek near Blagden's mill. From the abundance .there of the wiutergreen or checkerberry, Gaultheria procumbens. 46 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. NAMES FROM THE DISTRICT FLORA. (For convenience the popular and scientific names are arranged in one alphabetic series. ) Acanthus. Acorns. Adiautum. Alchemilla. Alder. Aletris. Alisina. Allium. Aluus, Amaranth. Amaryllis. Ambrosia. Auacharis. Andrea. Andromeda. Anemone. Anomodon. Anthemis. Aphyllou. Apricot. Arabis. Aralia. Arbutus. Arenaria. Arethusa. Arisema. Asarum. Asclepias. Asimiua. Aspen. Asphodel. Aspidium. Aster. Azalea. Baptisia. Barberry. Basil. Basswood. Bay berry. Beech. Bellflower. Bellwort. Bergamot. Betula. Bindweed. Birch. Bittersweet. Bitterweed. Blackberry. Bloodroot. Blueberry. Bluet. Boneset. Boxelder. Bracken. Brake. Brasenia. Brassica. Bromus. Brookweed. Bruchia. Bruiiella. Buckthorn. Bulrush. Burdock. Burnet. Buttercup. Butternut Buttonwood. Cacalia. Calamintha. Calamus. Calla. Cameliua. Campanula. Campion. Cannabis. Capsella. Cardamine. Cardinal (Cardinalis). Carpiuus. Carya. Cassia. Castanea. Catalpa. Catchfly. Catnip. Cattail. Cedar. Celandine. Celastrus. Ceutaurea. Cerastiutn. Charlock. Checkerberry. Cherry. Chervil. Chestnut. Chickory. Chickweed. Chinquapin (aboriginal). Chokeberry. Chokecherry. Choudrilla. Circea. Claytouia. Clearweed. Clematis. Clitoria. Clover. Columbine. Comandra. Couopholis. Convulvulus. Coralroot. Coreopsis. Cornel. Corydalis. Cory 1 us. Cowslip. Crabapple. Cranesbil. Cratagus. Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 47 Cress. Crotalaria. Crowfoot. Cryptogam. Cunila. Cuphea. Currant. Cuscuta. Cynthia. Dactylis. Dandelion. Danthonia. Darnel. Datura. Day flower. Deerberry. Delphinium. Deutaria. Desmodium. Dewberry. Diauthus. Diceutra. Dicranum. Diodia. Dirca. Dock. Dogbane. Dogrose. Dogwood. Drosera. Duckweed. Dulichium. Eatonia. Eckium. Eclipta. Elder. Eleusine. Ellisia. Elm. Elymus. Epigea. Equisetum. Erianthus. Erigenia. Erodium. Eryngo. Euphorbia. Evergreen. Everlasting. Fedia. Fern. Festuca. Filago. Filbert. Fireweed. Flax. Fleabane. Floral. Flower, Flowery. Fontiualis. Forgetmeuot. Foxgrape. Fragaria. Frasera. Frostweed. Fuuaria. Galingale. Galium. Gaultheria. Gaura. Gentian. Geranium. Gerardia. Gillenia. Ginseng. Glyceria. Goldeurod. Gooseberry. Grape. Gratiola. Greenbrier. Gum tree. Hackberry. Hawkweed. Hawthorn. Hazel. Hedeoma. Helenium. Heliauthus. Heliopsis. Heliotrope. Hemlock. Hemp. Hepatica. " Heracleum. Herpestis. Hesperis. Hibiscus. Hickory. Holcus. Holly. Honeysuckle. Hop. Hornbeam. Horsemint. Houstonia. Huckleberry. Hydrangea. Hypericum. Ilex. Indigo. Iris. Irouweed. Ironwood. Isanthus. Itea. Juucus. Juniper. Kalmia. Lactuca. Lamium. Laportea. Larkspur. Lathy r us. Laurel. Leafcup. Lechea. Leek. Lemua. Leonurus. Leptodon. Leskea. Lespedeza. Liatris. Lily. Linaria. Linden. Lindera. 48 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. rvoi. VI. Liparis. Liverwort. Lobelia. Locust. Lupinus. Lycium. Lycopus. Madura. Maguolia. Maidenhair. Mallow. Malva. Mandrake. Maple. Mariscus. Maruta. Maj-apple. Meadowsweet. Medeola. Melauthium. Melastorna. Melioa. Melissa. Mentha. Mertensia. Milfoil. Mint. Mistletoe. Mitchella. Mitella. Monarda. Moonseed. Moosewood. Morning-glory. Moss, Mossy. Mulberry. Mullein. Mustard. Myrica. Myrtle. Nasturtium. Negundo. Nepeta. Nesea. Nettle. Nicandra. Nightshade. Nitella. Nymphea. Nyssa. Oak. Obolaria. Onoclea. Orchis. Oroutium. Osmunda. Ostrya. Oxalis. Pauicum. Pansy. Papaw. Pardanthus. Parsley. Partridgeberry. Pastinaca. Pellea. Peltandra. Penthorum. Peppergrass. Peppermint. Perilla. Periwinkle. Persea. Persimmon (aboriginal). Phacelia. Phalaris. Phaseolus. Physalis. Pilea. Pimpernel. Pine. Pink. Pinoak. Piuweed. Pirus. Plautago. Plantain. Platanus. Plum. Polemonium. Polymnia. Pondlily. Poudweed. Poplar. Poppy. Portulaca. Postoak. Poterium. Puccoon (aboriginal). Pyrola. P.adula. Ragweed. Ranunculus. Raphanus. Raspberry. Rattlebox. Redbud. Redroot. Rhododendron. Riciuus. Robinia. Rochelia. Rockbrake. Rocket. Rose. Ruel. Ruellia. Rush. Sage. Salsola. Salvia. Samolus. Sandwort. Sanicle. Sanicula. Saponaria. Sassafras. Scapania. Scleria. Scutellaria. Sedge. Senna. Service. Setaria. Shellbark (hickory). Silkweed. Silphium. Smilax. Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 49 Suakeroot. Suowberry. Soapberry. Solatium. Solidago. Sorrel. Spartiua. Spearmint. Speedwell. Spergula. Spice wood. Spruce. Stellaria. Stramonium. Strawberry. Sumac Sundew. Sundrop. Sunflower. Sweetwilliam. Sycamore. Tansy. Teasel. Tephrosia. Thalictrum. Thelia. Thistle. Thorn, Thorny. Thornapple. Tilia. Tipularia. Tricuspis. Trifolium. Trillium. Trisetum. Trumpetvine. Tulip. Tupelo (aboriginal, southern). Turkscap. Twinleaf. Uniola. Valerian. Velvetleaf. Veratrum. Verbena. Vernal. Veruouia. Veronica. Vervain. Viburnum. Viuca. Vine, Viny. Viola. Violet. Walnut. Watercress. Waterleaf. Waterlily. Watershield. Waxweed. Willow. Wiudflower. Winterberry. Wiutergreen. Witchhazel. Woodbine. Woody. Yarrow. NAMES FROM THE FAUNA OF THE DISTRICT. Aquila (eagle). Bitteru. Blackbird. Bluebird. Bobolink. Butterfly. Buzzard. Canvasback. Catbird. Catfish. Chickadee. Chipmunk. Chrysalis. Cicada. Cowbird. Creeper. Cricket. Crow. Cuckoo. Curlew. Deudroica (warbler). Dragonfly. Eagle. Eel. Falco, Falcon. Fieldmouse. Firefly. Fishhawk. Flycatcher. Glowworm. Goldfinch. Grasshopper. Grouudsquirrel. Hawk. Heron. Hiruudo (swallow T ). Hummingbird. Hylodes. Kildeer. Kingbird. Kingfisher. Eark. Eizard. Eocust. Mallard. Martin. Mayfly. Minnow. Mockingbird. Mouse. Mullet. Muskrat. Nighthawk. Opossum (aboriginal). 50 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. Oriole. Ortolan. Owl. Papilio (butterfly). Partridge. Pewee. Pigeon. Pintail. Quail. Rabbit. Raccoon (aboriginal). Redbird. Redbreast. Redstart. Regulus (kinglet). Robin. Sandpiper. Sapsucker. Skylark. Snowbird. Sora (aboriginal ? - ortolan). Sparrow. Squirrel. Swallow. Tanager. Thrush. Tomtit. Trout. Turtle. Turtledove. Vireo. Wagtail. Waxwing. Warbler. Weasel. Whippoorwill. Wren. ABORIGINAL TERMS FROM THE POWHATAN LANGUAGE. This is the language of the aborigines formerly inhabiting the District and adjacent territory. The terms are taken from Strachey, Smith, and other early writers, the spelling being modified to con- form more nearly with modern English orthography and phonetics. Assimi'u — walnut (hickory ?). Assimoest — fox. Attomoi / s — dog. Awshocuttis— "a bird with carna- tion-colored wings," with whose feathers the Indians adorned themselves. Bocata / w — fire. Caasuu — village. Cahangoc — goose. Accohican — "to. make a dish." Accoudu' — "blue berries of the bigues of grapes, very pleasant. " Ahshaha / m — lobster. Aua / nsecoon — "a reed mat." Auascomin — acorn. Anath — farewell. Aotaw'k — rat. Apegwu 's — mouse. Apoca'n — pipe. Aposon — "a beast in bignes like a Camatin'g — six. pig and in tast alike " (opossum). Camzowa / u — rain. Appoaus — bread (pone). Aquataneek — a green tree. Aquinta'u — a boat. Aracu'n — "a beast like a fox" (raccoon). Arrokoth — the sky. Asaqueth — "the clay they make pipes of." Ascamuiik — eel. Aspamu' — the earth. Asque'owan — arrow. Assentucara — " it shineth." Asse / ntamin — "a pear" (?). Cantoca'u — dance. Cawwiu — sleep. Chacasow — crack. Cheawanta — "a robin red-breast." Chechinkamiu — chinkapin. Chehip — bird. Checomaw / — muscle shell. Chingissum— warm weather. Coau — snow. Coaqus — gull. Commoti'ns — turtle. Coquain — calm. Crenepo — woman. Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 51 Cutmaiu — long. Cuuse'nagwus — an Indian toma- hawk. Cuppatoan — sturgeon. Cuppanauk — gate. Cuttac — otter. Cutteru' — "to grow high.' Cuttoxeen — weary. Damisac — knife. Escowascus — sedge. Hauguequi'ns — "a little stone pot." Huspissa'wn — leap. Japasaws — chief of the Potomacs. Kecuttano'was — lightning. Kenewu' — sharp. Kequassou — " a pot to drink in." Kittasco / ok — adder. Macha / camac — "a great house." Mache / ss — low. Mahawk — gourd. Manawngwas — butterfly. Mangoit — great. Manote — basket. Maoco — a man's name. Maracaw — " apple." Marakimmiu — grape. Marahungoc — young goose. Mascohing — ' ' parrot. ' ' Matac'awiac — pearl. Matassu'n — copper. Mawngwipacus— leaves. Mawsawn — nettle. Mayis — "going in a path." Mequauoc — a long feather. Mettacook — a stalk. Mettaquins — grass. Metux — bridge. Missanek — squirrel . Moccasin ("mawhcasun ") — shoe. Mohocan — fish-hook. Moincaming — dead leaves. Momuscau — mole. Monachoc— sword. Monanaw — turkey. Moroke — cedar. Muscain — "glorious, smooth, or beautiful." Mussetaquao — circle. Nacochtank — the aboriginal set- tlement at the mouth of the Auacostia. Nammas — fish. Nawntam — wol f. Nawpin — sit down. Nepensuu — dust. Neppawngunuu — blood. Nisake — a cane (plant?). Nissacan — reed. Nouattu — fawn. Nowauus — lost. Nusomou — below. Nuttacawm — deep. Nuttaquon — flea. Ocquins — "a watchet-colored bird." Octa / mocan — a cup or drinking vessel. Ohawas — a crow. Opain — white. Opecha'ncano — the brother and successor of Powhatan. Opommin — chestnut. Opotena'oc — eagle. Opunawk — groundnut. Oronoca — a garden. Ospanno — a turkey cock. Ossantamin — a pea. Papaso / — sunrise. Pascamath — mulberry. Pascorath— "the gold sparks in the sand " (mica). Pawcu'nnao — dark. Pawngun — a little. Peccatoa's — bean. Pemanataon — thread, cord. Peuniuaw — robe. Petawin — the ground. Pisquaon — duck. Pittao— froth. Pocahontas — the daughter of Pow- hatan and friend of the whites. 52 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. [Vol. VI. Pocataws — wheat. Pocohawk — pestle, awl. Pocoons — a red dye. Pocosac — gun. Pomotaw — hill, mountain. Powhatan — the great chief of the confederated tribes of the lower Potomac region. Porance — fire. Porasap — a bag. Pungo — ashes. Quanacut — rainbow. Quangatarask — owl. Racaw — sand. Rapanta — venison. Rarrascaw — air. Rarenaw' — a chain, wampum. Rasauear — run. Reconac — tobacco pouch. Rickahone — comb. Sacaho / ok — " the cleere stones we gather." Sawwone — salt. Secawesa — a man's name. Shacahocau — stone. Succohauna — water. Tacaho / ac — a mortar. Tacquasu — short. Tamaci / n — swim. Tamuscamaw — flowing water. Tanaowa / m — where do you live ? Tapaco — night. Taquifoc— autumn. Tasa'ntaso — the whites. Tashoac — all is out. Tatamaho — garfish. Tayac — the great chief of south- ern Maryland. Probably a title rather than a name. Tomahawk (" tamahaac ") — hatchet. Towaw — strong. Tuckaho — "In June, July, and August they feed upon rootes of tockohow." Tussan — a seat. Uppowo / c — tobacco. Usawac — yellow. Utaca / n — dish. Utacaskis — lizard. Uttacawai — panther. Uttapawntam — deer. Wawchesa / o — a nest. Wecuttis — rabbit. Weputtahoc — a stake. Wingauoose — very good. Winganusk — the "great darling " of Powhatan. Wingatu — ripe. Wiroauce — a chief. Wisacanac — a rabbit skin. Wohaicank — fish scales. Woscau — a bone. Wushaguu — deer. Wusicket — a brook. Yeocauta — river. Yohacan — house. Respectfully submitted : James Mooney, Chairman of Committee. Wm. H. Babcock. W. Hallett Phillips. W. H. Holmes. Lester F. Ward. The above report was read at a meeting of the Anthropological Society and discussed by Mr. W J McGee, Mr. Spofford, Librarian of Congress; District Commissioner Douglass, Mr. Edward Good- fellow, Mr. F. C. Somes, James Mooney, and others. Mr. Doug- lass expressed his warm approval of the suggestions and general recommendations embodied in the report. Mr. Spofford advocated the substitution of another alphabetic series in place of the present Jan. 1893.] GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE. 53 letter names on the ground of liability of confusion between B and P, M and N, etc. The most important suggestion was that of Mr. F. C. Somes, who proposed to call all principal city thoroughfares numbered streets, having those running in one direction to bear even numbers, while those running at right angles to them would be called after the odd numbers. This plan, which seems feasible, would obviate all possi- bility of confusion between streets and avenues of the same num- ber, together with the necessity of using the term street or avenue in connection with the number in every case, and the only ap- parent objection is that it would necessitate a readjustment of the names of the present numbered streets. There being no objection, the report was declared adopted. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 314 000 3 #