GEOGRAPHIC BOARD, UNITED

STATES, organization invested with authority to render decision on names given to all stations and places in the United States, Alaska and insular | po e ions, and to fix the spelling of the same. The Board was created by executive order in 1890 under the title of the United States Board on Geographic Names, but in 1906 the title was changed to that at the head of this article, and at the same time the powers of the Board were enlarged. The purpose of the organization is to secure uniformity of usage in regard to geographic nomenclature and orthography. The Board pa es on all unsettled questions regarding geographic names that arise in the departments, determines any changes that may be made, and its decisions are binding on all officials. A separate board formerly existed for the Philippines, but has now been merged into the Geographic Board. The Chairman in 1923 was C. Hart Merriam of the U. 8. Department of Agriculture.