The latter then became known as Gonneville creek, until the coming of the cowmen.

It seems natural for successive classes of people in any territory, to unconsciously endeavor to obliterate the names and the glory of the departing peoples. Thus the reckless and contemptuous cowmen changed much of our geographical nomenclature. Lodgepole creek became commonly known as Pole creek, and Gonneville creek lost its historic significance in the prosiac Pumpkinseed. Lorren's fork became Lawrence fork, and the beautiful Bluewater now bears a disagreeable name, the Snake.

There is a justification for new people, who accomplish new things, to stamp indelibly the fact upon some physical attraction, but if it must be done by tearing down an identity that was here long before, it becomes a travesty, and an act little short of vandalism.

Take for instance, Mud Springs, so full of history that a volume could be written concerning it but the railroad has named the station "Simla." What does Simla indicate? Possibly the name of some railroad official, and possibly not so much as that. But it does mean the obliteration of an historical identity and association, and a sentiment that the generations of men would appreciate.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

ROBERT STUART'S WINTER CAMP

On June 20th, 1812, Robert Stuart, with a party of six others, left Astoria, Oregon, carrying dispatches to John Jacob Astor, of New York. The personnel of this party were hardened mountaineers and each is worthy of a volume of history, but as the achievements appear from time to time, it will not be necessary to give them further introduction now.