HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02232010 - D.1RECOMMENDATION(S):
OPPOSE the proposal to change the name of Mount Diablo to Mount Reagan, as
recommended by the Legislation Committee. CONSIDER the proposal to change the name
of Mount Diablo to Mount John Muir. AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board to send a letter
to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names communicating the opinion of the Board on these
two proposals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This matter has no fiscal impact on the County.
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names is responsible by law for adjudicating decisions
regarding geographic names for use by the departments and agencies of the Federal
government. On June 18, 2009 and again on January 6, 2010, the County was contacted
regarding the County’s opinion on a proposed name change for Mount Diablo to Mount
Reagan. The County is requested to respond to this matter before March 31, 2010. If no
response is received, we have been notified that the Board on Geographic Names will
consider the County’s opinion to be neutral and will make a decision that might affect the
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 02/23/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:See Addendum
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: L. DeLaney, 5-1097
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 23, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
D. 1
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Legislation Committee
Date:February 23, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Opinion on Name Change of Mount Diablo to Mount Reagan or Mount John Muir
name. (See Attachment A.)
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
The case summary from the U.S. Board on Geographic Names' Quarterly Review is as
follows (see Attachment B):
This proposal is to change officially the name of Mount Diablo, a 1,171 m (3,849 ft)
summit in east-central Contra Costa County, to Mount Reagan.
The new name is intended to honor Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004), the 33rd
governor of California (1967-1975) and 40th president of the United States (1981-1989).
According to the proponent, who provided a copy of the Wikipedia entry for President
Reagan with his application, “The Commemorative Name (Mt. Reagan) speaks for itself.”
The proponent, a resident of Oakley, believes the word “Diablo” is “derogatory and
profane” and should be changed. This is his second attempt to seek a new name for the
summit; in 2005 the BGN did not approve his proposal to change it to Mount Yahweh
(two other proposals, for Mount Miwok and Mount Ohlone, were considered and rejected
at the same meeting. An earlier proposal from the same proponent, for Mount Kawukum,
was withdrawn in favor of Mount Yahweh). In voting not to support those proposals, the
BGN cited the negative recommendations of the Contra Costa County Supervisors, the
California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names, and numerous other local
organizations, as well as a reluctance to change a longstanding name in widespread verbal
and published usage. Many of the aforementioned organizations include “Mount Diablo”
in their name.
In his initial application to the BGN, the proponent suggested that the summit should be
renamed either “Kawukum” (later amended to Mount Yahweh), or named in honor of
President Reagan. However, he was told that because of the Commemorative Naming
Policy, the latter name could not be considered until 2009 and so the BGN would
proceed with the former name. To this, the proponent responded that the Devil was “a
living person”, so how could naming a feature “Diablo” be acceptable?
Citing research conducted for the previous proposals, including an article entitled How
Did Mount Diablo Get Its Name? (Mount Diablo State Park website), there are several
theories regarding the origin of the summit’s current name, including one that suggests it
was applied in the early nineteenth century, when members of a Spanish military
expedition were involved in a search for some runaway Chupcan Indians. The runaways
escaped into the thick brush, which the Spanish soldiers referred to as Monte del Diablo
(“thicket of the Devil”). The Indians had in fact escaped across a local stream, “an act
only possible with the help of the Devil.” Over the years, the English-speaking settlers of
the area mistakenly presumed the term “monte” referred to the summit, hence the name
Mount Diablo for the feature. Another story, provided in California’s Spanish
Place-Names (Marinacci, 1997), suggests, “It took its name supposedly from the time
when Spanish soldiers were treated to a diabolical dance by their Indian foes’ medicine
man.” Dr. William Bright, in his 1998 revision of Erwin Gudde’s California Place
Names, reports that the earliest occurrence of the name Monte del Diablo was likely “on
the Plano topográfico de la Misión de San José about 1824.” Several sources indicate that
other indigenous and Spanish names have been applied to the summit over the years,
such as Cerro Alto De Los Bolbones, Monte Del Diablo, Monte Diablo, Monte Diavolo,
Mount Diabolo, ‘Oj-ompil-e, Sierra De Los Bolbones, Sukku Jaman, Supemenenu, and
Tuyshtak.
The existing name has appeared on USGS topographic maps since 1896, and also is on
the official Contra Costa County highway map and numerous other maps dating back to
the mid-nineteenth century. A large number of local organizations dedicated to
astronomy, aviation, surveying, and land preservation have been named for the summit.
The name Mount Diablo also applies to one of the three lines of meridian that pass
through the State of California, and upon which the numbering of the township and range
system is based. The peak of the summit serves as the initial point for the base and
meridian lines.
The proponent of the name change reports that when Contra Costa County was
established and was to be named, the name “Mount Diablo County” was rejected in favor
of something “less profane.” Prior to submitting his original proposal to the BGN, he
approached the management of the State Park with a request that the park be renamed,
but the Department of Parks and Recreation denied that appeal, suggesting that the name
was well established locally and regionally and that when the park was named in 1931,
no objections to the name were received. They suggested that the proponent contact the
BGN regarding the renaming of the summit.
According to GNIS, there are four administrative features in California, three buildings
and a school, named in honor of Ronald Reagan.
(End of excerpt)
Pursuant to this request, the Legislation Committee considered this matter at its February
1, 2010 meeting. The proposer, Mr. Art Mijares, was not able to attend the meeting but
did submit a "Position Paper" and a letter of clarification that was sent to the director of
the California State Parks (see Attachment C ). The Legislation Committee received
numerous communications about this matter, none of which support the name change.
(See Attachment D.) The Committee recommended that the Board of Supervisors oppose
the name change at its February 23, 2010 meeting.
The California State Names Authority has also indicated that it does not support nor
approve the name change from Mount Diablo to Mount Reagan.
Subsequent to this action, on February 8, 2010 staff received correspondence from the
California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names, Central California, indicating that
the U.S. Board on Geographic Names had received a second proposal to change the name
of Mount Diablo. (See Attachment E.) The proposal put forward the name of Mount John
Muir. The California Advisory Committee on Geographic names has requested that the
Muir. The California Advisory Committee on Geographic names has requested that the
Board of Supervisors provide their opinions on both name change proposals by the end
of the month.
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
Chair Gioia called for public comment. The following people spoke in favor of a name
change: Art Mijares, resident of Oakley; Robert Ericson, resident of Concord;
Benjamin Medel. The following people spoke in opposition to a name change: JoAnn
Hull, resident of Concord; Roland Grebert, Superintendent California Department of
Parks and Recreation. Having considered both proposals, the Board AUTHORIZED
the Chair of the Board to send a letter to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names
communicating the opinion of the Board that no name change, current or future, is
recommended.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A
Attachment B
Attachment C
Attachment E
Attachment D
Quarterly Review List 401
(52 Names)
Released June 17, 2009
UNITED STATES BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES
WASHINGTON, D.C.
This Quarterly Review List presents names proposed for geographic features in the United States.
The names are offered to (1) identify previously unnamed features, (2) provide official recognition to
names in current local usage, (3) resolve conflicts in name spellings, applications, and local usage, or
(4) change existing names. Any organization, agency, or person may indicate to the U.S. Board on
Geographic Names (BGN) their support or opposition to any name proposed herein by submitting
written evidence documenting their position.
The names herein are official for use in Federal publications and on maps upon approval by the BGN.
Only one name is official per geographic feature; however, a shortened version of an official name
may be authorized, and these are identified by underlining. The use or omission of non-underlined
words is optional.
Variant names and spellings discovered in researching a name are listed following the word “Not.”
These may include names and spellings that formerly were official, historical names known to have
been previously associated with the feature, names that conflict with current policies of the BGN,
misspellings, and names misapplied to the subject of the proposal.
If a populated place is incorporated under the laws of its State, it is specified as such in parentheses
after the feature designation. Populated places without such designations are not incorporated.
The information following each name indicates the submitting agency or person, the most recent base
series map* for locating the feature, the reason for the proposal, and other pertinent background facts
needed to assist the BGN in its decision process. Each paragraph also includes a link to available
maps services showing the location of the feature. A copy of this Review List has also been posted to
the BGN’s website at http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/quarterly_list.htm.
Effective immediately, the horizontal datum used for geographic coordinates in all Domestic
Geographic Names publications is the North American Datum of 1983. The datum of some
geographic coordinates from historical maps may still be the NAD27.
Comments on the name proposals may be sent to: Mr. Lou Yost, Executive Secretary, U.S. Board on
Geographic Names/Domestic Names Committee, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523;
telephone (703) 648-4552; fax (703) 648-4549; e-mail BGNEXEC@usgs.gov .
THE NAMES IN THIS REVIEW LIST MAY BE USED ONLY AFTER APPROVAL BY THE
BGN
*Standard map series published by the U.S. Geological Survey, USDA Forest Service, or Office of
Coast Survey.
ALASKA
Fairweather Bay: bay; in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge/Simeonof Wilderness, on the
W shore of Big Koniuji Island in the Shumagin Islands, 4.3 km (2.7 mi) NW of Flying Eagle Harbor;
named for the NOAA Ship Fairweather, the first ship to survey the bay in 2007; Aleutians East
Borough, Alaska; 55°10’06”N, 159°34’42”W; USGS map – Stepovak Bay (A-5) 1:63,360.
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglecoor?p_lat=55.1683333333333&p_longi=-
159.578333333333
Proposal: new name for an unnamed feature
Map: USGS Stepovak Bay (A-5) 1:63,360
Proponent: CDR Doug Baird; Ketchikan, AK
Administrative area: Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge/Simeonof Wilderness
Previous BGN Action: None
Names associated with feature:
GNIS: None found
Local Usage: None found
Published: None found
Case Summary: The bay proposed to be named Fairweather Bay is located on the western shore of
Big Koniuji Island, 4.3 km (2.7 mi) northwest of Flying Eagle Harbor, in the Shumagin Islands in
Aleutians East Borough. It also lies within the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge/Simeonof
Wilderness, the boundary of which extends one mile off the island’s mean low water line. According
to the proponent, who serves as the commanding officer of the NOAA Ship Fairweather, the bay is
well protected from southerly, northerly, and easterly storms and “has a good holding bottom for
anchoring at a depth of 25 fathoms.” He claims the Fairweather is the first ship to have surveyed the
bay in 2007 and they currently use it for anchorage while surveying the waters around the Shumagin
Islands. He further reports that no other vessels have been observed using the bay for anchoring
during the Fairweather’s operations in the area. There are five other features in Alaska known to be
named “Fairweather”: a cape, a glacier, a bar, a range, and a summit. The closest is approximately
800 miles distant.
The Alaska State Names Authority recommends approval of this new name. Although the bay lies
within a wilderness, the State believes the proposal is warranted and the name is needed for safety
reasons. In researching the issue, the State contacted the Aleut Corporation, the Pauloff Harbor
Village Council, the Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point, the Sanak Corporation, the Shumagin
Corporation, the Unga Corporation, and the Unga Tribe. Of these, the Aleut Corporation and the
Shumagin Corporation expressed support for the name; the lack of response from the remaining
groups is presumed to indicate a lack of an opinion. The Mayor of Aleutians East Borough also
endorses the name, while the City of Sand Point did not respond.
ARIZONA
Veterans Mountain: summit; elevation 586 m (1,922 ft); in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, N of
State Route 51, 2.7 km (1.7 mi) NW of Piestewa Peak; named for all veterans of the United States
military; Maricopa County, Arizona; Sec 27, T3N, R3E, Gila and Salt River Mer.; 33°34’08”N,
112°02’06”W; USGS map – Sunnyslope 1:24,000.
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglecoor?p_lat=33.568825&p_longi=-112.035034
Proposal: new name for an unnamed feature
Map: USGS Sunnyslope 1:24,000
Proponent: Lanny Brent; Sun City, AZ
Administrative area: Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Previous BGN Action: None
Names associated with feature:
GNIS: No record
Local Usage: None found
Published: None found
Case Summary: The new name Veterans Mountain is proposed for a 586 m (1,922 ft) summit located
within the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, approximately 2.7 km (1.7 mi) northwest of Piestewa Peak.
It was proposed by a resident of Sun City, who wishes to remember all of the veterans of the United
States military. He initially suggested the name as a replacement for Squaw Peak, but the BGN voted
to approve the name Piestewa Peak instead. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors recommends
approval of the name Veterans Mountain. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, which has
jurisdiction over the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, indicated it has long been department policy not to
apply names to individual peaks within the preserve, but it “neither supports nor objects to the
proposed name.” The Unified Arizona Veterans does not support naming the summit, while opinions
among the 15 member groups of the Northwest Valley Veterans’ Association were mixed (“some
were strongly in favor, one group wanted to name the mountain for Ira Hayes, some were still upset
with the way Piestewa Peak was handled, and some thought the mountain had nothing to do with
veterans.” Letters of support were received from the Gold Star Mothers of Arizona and the American
Legion, Department of Arizona. Also in support are U.S. Senator John Kyl and John McCain; State
Representatives Phil Lopes, Mark Anderson, James Weiers, Jerry Weiers, Nancy Young Wright, and
John Kavanagh; State Senators Linda Gray, Robert L. Burns, Carolyn Allen, Amanda Aguirre, John
McComish, Manuel Alvarez, and Jack Harper; Arizona Secretary of State Janice K. Brewer; one of
the representatives of the Arizona Corporation Commission; and the Arizona State Mine Inspector. A
copy of the proposal was sent to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa
Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the Gila River Indian Community, and the
Tohona O’odham Nation. Of these, only the Fort McDowell Yavapai responded, with support for the
name.
CALIFORNIA
Alexander Mountain: summit; elevation 953 m (3,128 ft); overlooking Alexander Valley, 16 km (9
mi) N of Healdsburg; named in association with nearby Alexander Valley; Sonoma County,
California; 38°44’42”N, 122°48’26”W ; USGS map – Jimtown 1:24,000; Not: Black Mountain.
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglemap?p_lat=38.7449077&p_longi=-
122.8072155&fid=255362
Proposal: to change a name to a new commemorative name
Map: USGS Jimtown 1:24,000
Proponent: Pete Downs; Santa Rosa, CA
Administrative area: None
Previous BGN Action: None
Names associated with feature:
GNIS: Black Mountain (FID 255362)
Local Usage: Alexander Mountain (local wineries), Black Mountain (local wineries)
Published: Alexander Mountain (several winery websites), Black Mountain (USGS 1940,
1955, 1974, 1990; Calflora, 2009; California Department of Natural Resources Geology of
the Healdsburg Quadrangle, 1951; Benchmark Maps, 2004)
Case Summary: This proposal is to change officially the name of Black Mountain in Sonoma County
to Alexander Mountain. The proponent, a representative of one of the largest wineries in the area,
believes the summit should be renamed to eliminate one of many duplicate names that occur
throughout the county and nationwide. The winery’s property comprises much of the summit’s
eastern slope, but most of the area is comprised of individually owned parcels. The proponent
included with his application a list of 49 summits in California named Black Mountain, including four
in Sonoma County, and noted also that there are 266 throughout the U.S. (excluding variant names
and others containing the words “Black Mountain,” as well as a few communities and features other
than summits). Conversely, Alexander Mountain is a relatively uncommon name (only five in the
nation), and according to the proponent, it is the name “already used locally” to refer to this summit.
He says the name change would “eliminate confusion and perform a meaningful reference function.”
He describes the feature as one of the more prominent peaks along the eastern side of Alexander
Valley.
The road that skirts the flanks of Black Mountain and which is approximately ¾ of a mile from its
peak is named Alexander Mountain Road. Many of the local wineries, including Stonestreet
Vineyards, located on the 5,400-acre Alexander Mountain Estate, use the name in their published
literature.
Unlike many of the other summits named Black Mountain, evidence suggests this one may not be
commemorative and is instead descriptive of the color of the feature (Gudde, 2004). One online
source states, “The entire south side of the mountain is covered in thick chaparral” (flickr.com, 2009).
However, it has since been determined that there was at one time a family named Black that owned
land in the area. According to a 19th century atlas, George H. Black and L.S. Black owned 2,200
acres, although their land was closer to Geyser Peak, which lies just to the northwest of Black
Mountain.
Alexander Valley was named for Cyrus Alexander, a native of Pennsylvania who settled in the area
and managed a Mexican land grant in the 1840s. As payment for his services, he received 9,000 acres
on the eastern side of the valley, where he built a home, planted an orchard, constructed a tannery,
and built the first grain mill in the area. There are numerous online references to “Black Mountain,”
in Sonoma County, but without geographic references, it is unclear whether they refer to this summit
or one of the others in the county.
In April 2005, the Sonoma County Supervisors passed a resolution “that proclaimed an area (also
known as “Eastern Upland Area”) would be known locally and nationally as Alexander Mountain.
The area in question contains the easterly face of Black Mountain but not the peak or any of the
slopes or other faces of that mountain.” The purpose of the county’s action was “to define a grape
growing appellation.” The county has not yet provided a recommendation on the current proposal.
The Healdsburg City Council does not support the name change, citing the proponent’s motivations
for proposing it, as well as longstanding use of and widespread support for the existing name. The
Cloverdale City Council and the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California have expressed
support for the proposal. The BGN has received approximately 30 letters from local residents and
longtime property owners who object to the name change. The majority cite long term use and the
historical significance of the existing name.
In addition to Alexander Valley, GNIS lists several other features named “Alexander”: a school, a
church, a historical post office, the Cyrus Alexander Family Cemetery, and the Alexander Valley
Rancheria, the home of the Mishewal Wappo Tribe of Alexander Valley; this Tribe is no longer
Federally-recognized.
Ballard Mountain: summit; elevation 619 m (2,031 ft); located in the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area, 1.6 km (1 mi) W of Seminole Hot Springs, 10 km (6 mi) N of Malibu;
named in honor of John Ballard (d. c.1900), an early black pioneer in the area; Los Angeles County,
California; Sec 6, T1S, R18W, San Bernardino Mer.; 34°06’35”N, 118°48’35”W; USGS map – Point
Dume 1:24,000; Not: Negrohead Mountain, Niggerhead Mountain.
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglemap?p_lat=34.1097284&p_longi=-
118.8098136&fid=1669997
Proposal: to change a name considered by some to be derogatory
Map: Point Dume 1:24,000
Proponent: Los County Board of Supervisors; Los Angeles, CA
Administrative area: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Previous BGN Action: None
Names associated with feature:
GNIS: Negrohead Mountain (FID 1669997)
Local Usage: Negrohead Mountain (recent media coverage)
Published: Niggerhead Mountain (USGS 1932); Negrohead Mountain (National Interagency
Fire Center map of southern California, 2005)
Case Summary: This proposal is to change the name of Negrohead Mountain, a 619 m (2,031 ft)
summit in Los Angeles County, to Ballard Mountain. The summit lies 1.6 km (1 mi) west of
Seminole Hot Springs and 2.8 km (1.6 mi) northeast of Saddle Rock, and just inside the boundary of
the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The summit was originally known by the
pejorative form of “Negrohead,” but in 1964, when the BGN changed that term universally, the name
became Negrohead Mountain. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors believes the existing
name has become derogatory and would like it changed to Ballard Mountain. Most research seems to
indicate the summit was named for the early black pioneer John Ballard (d. ca 1900), so changing the
name to Ballard Mountain would retain its original intent. According to one newspaper account,
“Ballard was a former Kentucky slave who came West around 1860 and died in 1905. He and his
wife moved to Los Angeles, where he was a teamster and became prominent in the small but growing
black community. He was part of a small group that founded Los Angeles’ African Methodist
Episcopal Church in 1869. But in 1880, Ballard, who had remarried after the death of his first wife,
decided to leave Los Angeles as newcomers poured in. “Historians speculate that the Ballards may
have been responding to growing segregationist policies and attitudes many thought they had safely
left behind in the antebellum South,” [Supervisor] Yaroslavsky’s motion said. The Ballard family
moved about 50 miles west to a valley in the Santa Monica Mountains near what is now the
community of Seminole Hot Springs. By the turn of the century he and his daughter, one of his seven
children, owned 320 acres obtained under the federal Homestead Act. Ballard did some farming and
ranching, worked as a blacksmith on a cattle ranch and cut and sold firewood. He lived in a shack and
was well-known to other settlers.”
Although the name Negrohead Mountain is not published on current USGS topographic maps, nor
does it appear on most other Federal maps (with the exception of a fire planning map posted online by
the National Interagency Fire Center), there are numerous references to it because of recent media
coverage of this name proposal. Letters of support for the name change have been received from the
City of Calabasas, the City of Malibu, the City of Agoura Hills, State Senator Fran Pavley, and U.S.
Senator Dianne Feinstein. The National Park Service and the California Advisory Committee on
Geographic Names also recommend approval of the proposal.
Ironwood Canyon: valley; 5.5 km (3.4 mi) long; in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, heads at
33°00’15”N, 116°16’16”W, trends S to join Carrizo Valley 3.2 km (2 mi) ENE of Agua Caliente
Springs; named for the desert ironwood trees that grow in the valley; San Diego County, California;
Tps13&14S, R7E, San Bernardino Meridian; 32°57’31”N, 116°16’04”W; USGS map – Agua
Caliente Springs 1:24,000.
Mouth: http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglecoor?p_lat=32.9586111111111&p_longi=-
116.267777777778
Source: http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglecoor?p_lat=33.0041666666667&p_longi=-
116.271111111111
Proposal: new name for an unnamed feature
Map: USGS Agua Caliente Springs 1:24,000
Proponent: Frank Colver; Newport Beach, CA
Administrative area: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Previous BGN Action: None
Names associated with feature:
GNIS: None found
Local Usage: None found
Published: None found
Case Summary: The 5.5 km (3.4 mi) long valley proposed to be named Ironwood Canyon is located
in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and trends south to join Carrizo Valley 3.2 km (2 mi) east-
northeast of Agua Caliente Springs. The proposed name was suggested in association with that of the
intermittent stream that originates in the valley and which is proposed to be named Ironwood Wash
(q.v.). According to the proponent, the name recognizes the “tough, hardy, and long lived desert
ironwood trees” that are few in number in other valleys in this desert terrain but quite numerous along
the length of the stream. There are no other valleys in California named Ironwood Canyon.
Ironwood Wash: stream; 8.4 km (5.2 mi) long; in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, heads at
33°00’17”N, 116°16’18”W, flows S to its confluence with Vallecito Creek in Carrizo Valley, 4 km
(2.5 mi) SE of Agua Caliente Springs; named for the desert ironwood trees that grow along the
stream; San Diego County, California; Tps13&14S, R7E, San Bernardino Meridian; 32°56’18”N,
116°15’44”W; USGS map – Agua Caliente Springs 1:24,000.
Mouth: http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglecoor?p_lat=32.938296&p_longi=-
116.262152
Source: http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglecoor?p_lat=33.0047222222222&p_longi=-
116.271666666667
Proposal: new name for an unnamed feature
Map: USGS Agua Caliente Springs 1:24,000
Proponent: Frank Colver; Newport Beach, CA
Administrative area: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Previous BGN Action: None
Names associated with feature:
GNIS: None found
Local Usage: None found
Published: None found
Case Summary: The unnamed stream proposed to be named Ironwood Wash heads in the valley
proposed to be named Ironwood Canyon (q.v.), then flows south for 8.4 km (5.2 mi) to its confluence
with Vallecito Creek. The proponent notes that several other washes in the area have names and so
“it would be appropriate to also have a wash named after the very tough, hardy, and long lived desert
ironwood tree.” These trees, which are relatively uncommon in this desert terrain, are frequent along
the length of this stream. The proposed name has the support of a local author, who has published a
guide to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. There is one other feature in California named
Ironwood Wash; it is located in San Bernardino County.
Mount Reagan: summit; elevation 1,171 m (3,849 ft); located in Mount Diablo State Park, 8 km (5
mi) SSE of Clayton, 13 km (8 mi) E of Walnut Creek; named in honor of Ronald Reagan (1911-
2005), United States President 1981-1989 and Governor of California 1967-1975; Contra Costa
County, California; Sec 31, T1N, R1E, Sec 36, T1N, R1W, Sec 1, T1S, R1W and Sec 6, T1S, R1E,
Mount Diablo Meridian; 37°52’54”N, 121°54’46”W; USGS map – Clayton 1:24,000; Not: Cerro
Alto De Los Bolbones, Monte Del Diablo, Monte Diablo, Monte Diavolo, Mount Diabolo, Mount
Diablo, ‘Oj-ompil-e, Sierra De Los Bolbones, Sukku Jaman, Supemenenu, Tuyshtak.
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglecoor?p_lat=37.8816666666667&p_longi=-
121.913888888889
Proposal: to change a name considered by some to be derogatory
Topographic Map: Clayton 1:24,000
Proponent: Arthur Mijares; Oakley, CA
Administrative area: Mount Diablo State Park
Previous BGN Action: None
Names associated with feature:
GNIS: Mount Diablo (FID 222343)
Local Usage: Mount Diablo (local residents; California State Parks Department; Save Mount
Diablo; Mount Diablo Astronomical Society; Mount Diablo Pilots Association; Mount
Diablo Surveyors Historical Society, Mount Diablo Audubon Society)
Published: Mount Diablo (USGS 1896, 1898/12/22/47, 1953, 1962, 1982, 1991; California
State Highway map, 2004; Mount Diablo State Park maps and brochures; Contra Costa
County map, 1992; Writers’ Guide Series, 1939; Gudde, 1998; Marinacci, 1997; Benchmark
Maps, 2004; Colton map, 1856; Mitchell map, 1865, 1866, 1881; Asher & Adams, 1874;
Century Atlas, 1897)
Case Summary: This proposal is to change officially the name of Mount Diablo, a 1,171 m (3,849 ft)
summit in east-central Contra Costa County, to Mount Reagan. The new name is intended to honor
Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004), the 33rd governor of California (1967-1975) and 40th president
of the United States (1981-1989). According to the proponent, who provided a copy of the Wikipedia
entry for President Reagan with his application, “The Commemorative Name (Mt. Reagan) speaks for
itself.”
The proponent, a resident of Oakley, believes the word “Diablo” is “derogatory and profane” and
should be changed. This is his second attempt to seek a new name for the summit; in 2005 the BGN
did not approve his proposal to change it to Mount Yahweh (two other proposals, for Mount Miwok
and Mount Ohlone, were considered and rejected at the same meeting. An earlier proposal from the
same proponent, for Mount Kawukum, was withdrawn in favor of Mount Yahweh). In voting not to
support those proposals, the BGN cited the negative recommendations of the Contra Costa County
Supervisors, the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names, and numerous other local
organizations, as well as a reluctance to change a longstanding name in widespread verbal and
published usage. Many of the aforementioned organizations include “Mount Diablo” in their name.
In his initial application to the BGN, the proponent suggested that the summit should be renamed
either “Kawukum” (later amended to Mount Yahweh), or named in honor of President Reagan.
However, he was told that because of the Commemorative Naming Policy, the latter name could not
be considered until 2009 and so the BGN would proceed with the former name. To this, the
proponent responded that the Devil was “a living person”, so how could naming a feature “Diablo” be
acceptable?
Citing research conducted for the previous proposals, including an article entitled How Did Mount
Diablo Get Its Name? (Mount Diablo State Park website), there are several theories regarding the
origin of the summit’s current name, including one that suggests it was applied in the early nineteenth
century, when members of a Spanish military expedition were involved in a search for some runaway
Chupcan Indians. The runaways escaped into the thick brush, which the Spanish soldiers referred to
as Monte del Diablo (“thicket of the Devil”). The Indians had in fact escaped across a local stream,
“an act only possible with the help of the Devil.” Over the years, the English-speaking settlers of the
area mistakenly presumed the term “monte” referred to the summit, hence the name Mount Diablo for
the feature. Another story, provided in California’s Spanish Place-Names (Marinacci, 1997),
suggests, “It took its name supposedly from the time when Spanish soldiers were treated to a
diabolical dance by their Indian foes’ medicine man.” Dr. William Bright, in his 1998 revision of
Erwin Gudde’s California Place Names, reports that the earliest occurrence of the name Monte del
Diablo was likely “on the Plano topográfico de la Misión de San José about 1824.” Several sources
indicate that other indigenous and Spanish names have been applied to the summit over the years,
such as Cerro Alto De Los Bolbones, Monte Del Diablo, Monte Diablo, Monte Diavolo, Mount
Diabolo, ‘Oj-ompil-e, Sierra De Los Bolbones, Sukku Jaman, Supemenenu, and Tuyshtak.
The existing name has appeared on USGS topographic maps since 1896, and also is on the official
Contra Costa County highway map and numerous other maps dating back to the mid-nineteenth
century. A large number of local organizations dedicated to astronomy, aviation, surveying, and land
preservation have been named for the summit. The name Mount Diablo also applies to one of the
three lines of meridian that pass through the State of California, and upon which the numbering of the
township and range system is based. The peak of the summit serves as the initial point for the base
and meridian lines. The proponent of the name change reports that when Contra Costa County was
established and was to be named, the name “Mount Diablo County” was rejected in favor of
something “less profane.” Prior to submitting his original proposal to the BGN, he approached the
management of the State Park with a request that the park be renamed, but the Department of Parks
and Recreation denied that appeal, suggesting that the name was well established locally and
regionally and that when the park was named in 1931, no objections to the name were received. They
suggested that the proponent contact the BGN regarding the renaming of the summit.
According to GNIS, there are four administrative features in California, three buildings and a school,
named in honor of Ronald Reagan.
COLORADO
Frontier Visions Peak: summit, elevation 4,153 m (13,626 ft); in San Isabel National Forest, 3.1 km
(1.9 mi) W of Mount Princeton, 14 km (9 mi) SW of Buena Vista; the name recognizes and honors
the artists and photographers of the American West; Chaffee County, Colorado; Sec 18, T15S,
R79W, Sixth Principal Meridian; 38°45’12”N, 106°16’03”W; USGS map – Mount Yale 1:24,000.
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglecoor?p_lat=38.753447&p_longi=-106.267576
Proposal: new name for an unnamed feature
Map: USGS Mount Yale 1:24,000
Proponent: Lowell Forbes; Arvada, CO
Administrative area: San Isabel National Forest
Previous BGN Action: None
Names associated with feature:
GNIS: No record
Local Usage: None found
Published: None found
Case Summary: The new name Frontier Visions Peak is proposed for an unnamed 4,153 m (13,626
ft) summit in west-central Chaffee County, 14 km (9 mi) southwest of the community of Buena Vista,
and 3.1 km (1.9 mi) west of Mount Princeton. The summit also lies within the San Isabel National
Forest. The name is intended to recognize the contributions of the artists and photographers of the
American West, ranging from the more well-known Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington, Albert
Bierstadt, Thomas Moran, William H. Jackson, and Ansel Adams to the less recognized Samuel
Seymour and Titian Peale. The latter two individuals produced the first drawings of the Rocky
Mountains in 1819, while the Missouri River paintings of another early artist, Karl Bodmar, were so
accurate that for many years they were used by pioneers traveling west. As the proponent reports,
“his depictions of the Mandan Indian tribe recorded a way of life before they were decimated by a
smallpox epidemic.” Another early painter of Indian culture was Alfred Jacob Miller. Also during
Position Paper
SPIRITUAL AND LEGAL ISSUES
JUSTIFYING A NAME CHANGE
TO THE MOUNTAIN
On January 5, 2005, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names
acknowledged receipt of our proposal to change officially the name of
Mount Diablo (Devil) in Contra Costa County, CA. The U.S Board on
Geographic Names is responsible by law for standardizing geographic
names for use by the Federal government. Its members must approve any
new name or name changes before it can be applied to Federal maps. It is
our opinion that the profane name, placed in error, is derogatory and must be
changed for spiritual and legal reasons covered by our constitution of this
United States of America.
The Spiritual issues date back to our Native-American brothers and
sisters who were here long before the newcomers. Just about every CA
Native-American community who viewed the mountain would at one time
or another, make a pilgrimage to the summit area for ceremonies. The reason
the mountain is so sacred to the CA Native-American people is that was the
creation point for the Miwok people or genesis for some CA Native-
American people. The fact that the present name Diablo or Devil (the Chief
evil spirit, Satan) carries a curse that continues to take and destroy what was
sacred to the Native-American people, including their name for the
mountain. Today, we who are in view of the mountain, continue to live
under the curse of Spanish Soldiers who first called out, “Monte del Diablo”.
We who have spiritual awareness understand the meaning and ramifications
of living under a feature named after the Devil. The name of the mountain
shall be changed for the Glory of God, back to its original name.
The Legal issues are covered under the First Amendment, which
provides a constitutional guarantee of government neutrality in religion.
Religious freedom means that people of all faiths can enjoy the public park
without feeling like second-class or cursed citizens. Calling the feature,
Mount Diablo, makes the state park and its main feature, seem like an open-
air church or place of worship to the Devil. It makes many religious people
feel diminished and unwelcome. Every child and adult has a right to enjoy
the state park.
The ACLU and other Legal Religious Liberty groups have stated, it will
continue to fight for the right of each person to follow the dictates of
his/her conscience in matters of belief. Americans are a deeply religious
people—with an extraordinary variety of faiths—preciously because the
First Amendment keeps the heavy hand of government out of the delicate
and sacred realm of faith (The ACLU and Religious Liberty dated 12-31-
97). The First Amendment protects religious liberty through two principles:
each individual may worship freely, and the government must stay out of
religion.
Therefore, it is legally prudent to change the name of our mountain
under the First amendment and return the original name given to the
mountain by the Native-Americans.
Arthur Mijares
504 Brooks Drive
Oakley, CA 94561
(925) 679-9901
Director Ruth Coleman
California State Parks
P.O Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
RE: Clarification of Proposal to change name of Mt. Diablo
Dear Director Coleman, 8-17-2004
As a follow up to my letter of June 17, 2004, and my meeting with Don Monahan
and Brian Hickey on 7-13-04 at Seashore State Park in Berkeley, this letter will serve to
further clarify my formal proposal to change the name of Mt. Diablo and Mt. Diablo State
Park.
As you are aware, I believe the mistakes of the past need to be corrected. I also
believe that re-naming the mountain will have a positive impact on the surrounding
communities of Contra Costa County and beyond as well as correcting past errors.
The following comments are relevant to these considerations: When the Unit was
acquisitioned, the accustom name was continued. This action was made a policy in State
Park and Recreation Commission Policy II.2 (amended 5-4-94) paragraph 3, which
provides as follows:
“In most cases, a unit should bear the name to which it has been
accustomed due to location, association, history, nature features, or
general usage. Changing the name of a classified unit is strongly
discouraged”. In most case this policy would appear to be proper and
should be followed. However, in the case of Mt. Diablo (Devil), we
need to change the name. According to Mr. Don Monahan, the USGS
is responsible for name changes and as the SPRC Policies don’t specify
reasons for change, I refer to USGS regulations.
Under the Title of Principles, Polices, and Procedures: Domestic
Geographic Names of USGS (GNIS-Geographic Names Information
System) Chapter 3,
POLICY II: NAMES CHANGES, it states:
“Geographic names, as do other categories of proper names, perform
an important reference or label function in language. Each name
identifies a particular geographic feature, place, or area. This function
requires a high degree of stability in the spoken and written forms of
names and their applications. Consequently, changes in existing
names should not be made without good reason. The U.S. Board on
Geographic Names will consider every proposal involving a name
change on an individual basis, and merits of each case will be
carefully evaluated”.
Definition
“Names changes” means formally changing the proper name of a
place, feature or area in the United States or its territories and
outlying areas now recognized by the U.S. Board on Geographic
Names as official use on Federal maps and in other Federal
publications. The Board recognizes three classes of names changes:
1. Those made to bring Federal official usage into agreement with
well-established local usage.
2. Those made to eliminate particular name problems as in case
involving derogatory names, name duplication, and names originally
authorized on the basis of incorrect information.
3. Those made at the request of persons or organizations, public or
private, for commemorative or other reasons important to the
proposer.
Policy
sec. 1
General: The U.S. Board on Geographic Names does not encourage
changes in official geographic names. It will not initiate changes in
domestic geographic names except in rare cases such as those
involving certain derogatory names and name duplications. All
name change proposals are evaluated in cooperation with State
geographic names authorities, Federal, State, and tribal agencies,
local governments, other authoritative bodies, and the public.
sec. 2
Conforming to Local Usage: It is the policy of the Board to follow
present-day local usage whenever possible. However, the Board
will consider proposals to change official names that do not agree
with well-established local usage or its applications. Considerations
other than local usage may be overriding in certain individual cases.
Factors such as Board policies, document usage, population density,
and State, tribal, and local governmental needs are always
considered in Board decisions.
sec. 3
Derogatory Names: The Board has a firm policy prohibiting the
inclusion of a word in an official geographic name considered by
the Board to be derogatory to any racial, ethnic, gender, or religious
group (see Policy V: Derogatory Names).
sec. 4
Duplicate Names: Common names are often applied over and over
again in the naming process. Where duplication leads to confusion,
the Board encourages requests to change names in order to
eliminate duplication (see Policy VII: Name Duplication).
Approved by:
Board on Geographic Names
March 12, 1981
Approved by:
Secretary of the Interior
April 20, 1981
In following these guidelines, I am requesting the commission to correct past
errors made regarding this State Unit (Mt. Diablo) because the name is derogatory to
most citizens in CCC and the original name came from incorrect information.
In this regard it is certainly germane that the California State Legislature believed
the name to be profane. As stated in my previous letter dated 6-17-2004:
“It was intended to call the county (Mt. Diablo), but both branches of the Legislature, after warm debate
on the subject, resolved upon the less-profane one (name) of Contra Costa.” (Including present-day
Alameda County), [A History of Mt. Diablo, page 2, mdia.org.]. That the name ‘Mt.
Diablo’ is both derogatory and profane cannot be doubted, as evidence by our own State
Legislature’s considerations and actions in this regard.
Moreover, the original name (Mt. Diablo) was “authorized on the basis of
incorrect information”, which constitutes a ‘second’ reason for the requested name
change. The name was incorrectly based on the original naming of the thickets in area
near Pacheco, CA when English-speaking newcomers incorrectly relied on such matters
when naming the mountain. As stated in my previous letter:
“In this account, there was a linguistic accident or mistake by English-speaking
newcomers. Most agree this was the origin of the name Mt. Diablo. It came from a
Spanish military expedition in search of runaway mission Indians (slaves) in 1804 or
1805. The Native Americans (Indians) escaped and in anger and confusion, the Spanish
Soldiers called the site “Monte del Diablo” or “Thicket of the Devil”. What happened is
during the night, the natives escaped across the Carquinez Strait, an act only possible,
according to the Spaniards, with the help of the Devil (Diablo). The thicket became
known as “Monte del Diablo and Anglo settlers later misunderstood that the word
“monte” meant mountain and fastened the name on the most obvious local landmark.
(How Did Mount Diablo Get Its Name, page 1 mdia.org).
I believe the Native Americans escaped with God’s help, freed from the bondages
of forced labor. They crossed over to the other side of the river, free to be who they were.
Why should we give the Devil credit for what he has NOT done? I believe we need
to change the mistake of naming our mountain after the Devil when he has not earned
this right and therefore we have used a curse in His name to identify our surrounding
communities. This is wrong, let’s change it.
The mountain is believed to be sacred and was known by Native Americans as
‘Mt. Kawukum’ (Laughing Mt., everywhere seen). Every time I look at the Mountain I
say to myself, “we are no longer going to call you Mt. Diablo, and we are going to change
your name.” After all, we are one nation, under God, why not one ‘Mt. Kawukum’ (i.e.
Mt. Everywhere seen) under God. Alternatively, the neutral name of Mt. Ronald Reagan,
after our beloved President who just passed away would be appropriate as a new name.
He freed the slaves of Communism and called things for what they were. Unlike the
history of our mountain and the bondage placed upon our Native American brothers by
those who misnamed our mountain in a curse. Let’s get rid of the Devil name. If we have
issues with God in the public sector, then we need very much to eradicate the name of
the Devil. Devil out and something else in.
Well, I hope this letter clarifies my proposal and those in our County who feel the
same. Please help me get on the agenda to consider this change or referral to the
USGS.
Please provide a copy of my letter and request to the members of the State Parks
and Recreation Commission for review and I hope to see you at the next meeting in
Northern CA under “open public comment” session. Let me know what needs to be done
in order to implement the change for our mountain’s name. Thank you.
Respectfully Submitted,
Arthur Mijares
504 Brooks Drive,
Oakley, CA 94561
(925) 756-1738
amijares504@sbcglobal.net
cc: Office of Governor-Arnold Schwarzenegger, Office of State Assemblyman- Joseph
Canciamilla, Office of State Assemblyman-Guy S. Houston, Office of State Senator-Tom
Torlakson, open letter to the people of “ Laughing Mountain, Everywhere seen”. personal
files.
From:Meyer, Tiffany
To:'ldela@cao.cccounty.us'
Subject:FW: BGN Proposal: Mt. John Muir, California
Date:02/08/2010 04:27 PM
Hi Lara,
Here's the exchange regarding the new proposal to change Mt Diablo to Mt
Muir. The link to the official proposal is at the bottom of the exchange. I hope
you will be able to get this on the Board of Supervisor's Feb 23rd meeting
agenda. The advisory committee highly values the county's input on this matter,
so please get back to us, once the Supervisors have had a chance to review the
issue.
Thank you!
Tiffany Meyer
Research Program Specialist GIS
CAL FIRE and Fire and Resource Assessment Program
P.O. Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
916.445.5397
tiffany.meyer@fire.ca.gov
From: Bob Ericson [mailto:Bob@webONE.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 1:31 PM
To: GS-N-MAC BGNEXEC
Cc: Lauren Brosnan; Meyer, Tiffany; barbara.wanish@conservation.ca.gov;
Margaret J Hamilton; Jennifer E Runyon; Jane A Messenger; Louis A Yost
Subject: Re: BGN Proposal: Mt. John Muir, California
Dear Mr. Yost,
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I think it best if I restate your questions in
the form I think I understand them. This way you will know if I understood your
questions correctly.
1. What is the logical justification for “Mount John Muir” instead of just
“Mount Muir”?
a. There is the practical aspect that when Mount Muir is said rapidly one tends to
slur it so it comes out sounding more like “Mount M-your” instead of “Mount Muir.”
Try it a few times and see if it doesn’t happen. Also, “Mount Muir” is just two
syllables so increasing it to three syllables isn’t making it too long. Notice that Mount
Muir has a crude tone while Mount John Muir actually has a poetic tone. Instead of
a slur it becomes poetry.
b. The Muir name is too common for someone to automatically associate it with the
famous John Muir. Even in this, his home county where he is legendary, whenever I
say we should change the mountain’s name to Mt. Muir I usually get the question
“who’s that?” As soon as I tell them John Muir they instantly recognize the great
man. If this issue comes to a ballot we would have to explain repeatedly to the
public that it is the John Muir so let’s just call it Mount John Muir in the first place.
c. The “Mount John Muir” name will delineate it from the other mountains bearing
his name as the mountain where his home is located and he got the idea of national
parks and where he labored to bring us our first national park Yosemite.
Hundreds of airplanes pass near the mountain daily on their way to San Francisco
and pilot announces it as Mt. Diablo. I want the pilot announcing it as Mount John
Muir so all the children on the plane who have heard of John Muir in school will to
say to their parents “I learned about him in school, can we see Mount John Muir?” I
want the same reaction to the literally millions of children who live within view of the
mountain. And thousands more that take a driving vacation within view of the
mountain.
I believe the natural curiosity of children will bring them to his mountain and
afterwards they will go see his home down at the base of Mount John Muir in
Martinez. I see Mount John Muir as the beacon that beings in the children so we
can pass on the John Muir legacy forever.
2. Is my request a protest to the proposal to rename Mount Diablo to Mount
Reagan?
a. NO! If you talk with my wife she will tell you I have talked about Mount John Muir
for decades. I have mentioned it in several times in public meetings over the years
but did not find support.
b. The reason I picked now to submit my request is because of the furor caused by
the Mt. Reagan proposal. I believe I have to act now while the issue is in the mind
of the public or forever pass on the opportunity. Another reason is I did not know
how to submit a name change until I read about it in the Mt. Reagan documents.
Please believe me that I would have submitted it years ago if I had known how.
c. Another reason I picked now is I think Mount John Muir is a good solution to the
religious problems raised by the Mt. Reagan proponents. In their documentation
and in the news they complain that the name is offensive to their religious beliefs as
fundamentalist Christians. I agree with them. It does offend their beliefs. Not mine,
but there’s. I was raised a Southern Baptist in a small southern town so I do very
well understand their beliefs. They want to be god-focused but are frustrated with
the devils name all over the place. It’s kind of like trying to be a good vegetarian
while living next door to a Kentucky Fried Chicken.
If other religions were so forthright I’m sure we would learn the interesting lesson
that all religions are offended at least a little. You know there has to be some devout
Muslims in the county that are pretty upset. If you think about it, this is actually one
of those rare things Christians, Jews and Muslims actually agree on - but are afraid
to be ridiculed as the Mt. Regan proponents have now learned.
It is a fact that the religious movement is growing all over the country. We have not
seen much of it here but it is coming. If we don’t address the Mt. Diablo name issue
now, the frustration will increase over time until it reaches the boiling point and then
we will have real physical fights in our community meeting.
What I hope is the proponents of the Mt. Regan name will realize the only way they
have a chance to get rid of the Mt. Diablo name is to switch their support to Mount
John Muir. I think now that they have seen the polls and the reaction in the press
that they might listen to reason. If they are able to get support from the churches
and I am able to get support from conservation groups then I think there is an
excellent chance it will pass.
c. I believe the Mount John Muir name is something that unites Republicans and
Democrats. A big reason is the National Park system is such a big hit that everyone
wants credit. The Republicans love pointing out that it was a Republican president –
Theodore Roosevelt – who created the first national park so they are very happy
with the connection between him and John Muir. In fact, a lot of them happily
display in their office that famous picture of Muir and Roosevelt in Yosemite. And on
the Democrat side there is no question everyone is a fan of the man who inspired
the world to create national parks.
When you put all this together we have a solution that is agreeable to all political,
religious and social beliefs. This is something rare to find so it deserves serious
consideration.
3. Why name something else after John Muir?
This is his home and there isn’t anything truely significant named after him in the
county. Most residents don’t even know his home is in the county. He is the
greatest man to ever come out of this county and he deserves to have our mountain
named after him. The same mountain that cradles his home at the base in Martinez.
The same mountain he spent countless hours roaming as he thought about the
destruction of the natural beauties of America. The same mountain that he thought
of the idea of a national park.
This mountain is to John Muir what the Menlo Park Lab was to Thomas Edison.
Instead of giving us the light bulb, he gave us another kind of light – the light of
ideas. When people know that they will want to come here to this mountain to walk
where he walked, see what he saw and think about what the thought. Hopefully,
someone will be inspired to think of something even better that the national parks.
I believe this concludes the questions you asked. Thank you for your kind attention
to my request. I am happy to help the process as much as I can. I am copying this
email to my Contra Costa County Supervisor Susan Bonilla (via Lauren Brosnan).
Please keep her in the loop.
Bob Ericson
Cell: 925.207.7938 Office: 925.478.6678
Website: http://www.webONE.com Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/
robertericson
----- Original Message -----
From: GS-N-MAC BGNEXEC
To: bob@webone.com
Cc: Louis A Yost ; Jane A Messenger ; Jennifer E Runyon ; Margaret J Hamilton ;
barbara.wanish@conservation.ca.gov ; tiffany.meyer@fire.ca.gov
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: BGN Proposal: Mt. John Muir, California
This will acknowledge receipt of your proposal to change the name Mount
Diablo in California to Mt. John Muir [sic]. Before we accept this
proposal, we shall require some clarification and we must make some
comments. If accepted, the proposal would be Mount Muir (or possibly
Mount John Muir) as Mt. is an abbreviation, and therefore, never
considered as official because abbreviations are just that, abbreviations
meaning they are not actually words, but an abbreviated form of a word
used solely in printed documents when space is a problem. Also, we must
suggest that the Board does not normally approve commemorative names
where
both the given name and the surname are used; the Board prefers using
the
surname only for a variety of reasons. However, if the proponent insists,
and provides logical justification then the proposal would be accepted as
Mount John Muir. This of course, does not indicate any degree of or
indication of final approval.
We also must ask if this proposal is in protest to or a tactic regarding
the existing proposal to rename Mount Diablo to Mount Reagan. It is only
relevant because accepting this proposal will, in effect, begin the
process again, and delay, although we cannot predict how long, the final
decision on this new proposal (if accepted) and the existing proposal. The
California State Names Authority has already indicated that it does not
support nor approve the name change from Mount Diablo to Mount
Reagan. We
cannot in any way predict nor indicate how that organization would view
this potential proposal, but we have unofficially sensed by the discussion
at the California State Names Authority that they are not in favor of a
change from Mount Diablo. This is of course purely speculation on our
part and based entirely upon subjective observations.
Further we note that there are already numerous features named in honor
of
the well-deserving John Muir, and we must wonder on a purely speculative
note if this will affect the County, the State, or the Federal Board's
consideration of this proposal should it be accepted.
Please indicate if you care to pursue proposing Mount Muir, or if you
insist and can demonstrate why it is necessary then Mount John Muir.
For Lou Yost
Executive Secretary,
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
703.648.4552
BGNEXEC@usgs.gov
02/01/2010 04:20 PM
Please respond to BGNEXEC
To: BGNEXEC@usgs.gov
cc:
Subject: BGN Proposal: Mt. John Muir, California
New BGN Proposal has been submitted. Details follow:
ID number: 5650
Proposed Name: Mt. John Muir
State: California
Submitter/Preparer: Robert Ericson
Email Address: bob@webone.com
Phone Number: 9252077938
To review this Name Proposal, visit our search page and input the ID
number or display the proposal by clicking or copy and paste the direct
link below into your web browser.
Search page: http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=DGNPBGN
Display proposal:
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=DGNPBGN:display:::NO::
P2014_NAP_ID:5650