Date: Mon, 13 Mar 1995 00:48:59 CST

From: "Donald M. Lance" ENGDL[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MIZZOU1.BITNET

Subject: Re: Ar-Kansas



Arkansawyers speak of the Arkansaw River, though Arkansans might hesitate.

Kansans refer to the ArKANsas River, as well as to the town of ArKANsas

City KS, of course. Will Clinton change his pronunciation to Dole's?

Marquette started it all by writing "AKANSEA" beside some symbols representing

teepees opposite the mouth of the Arkansas River. This is another case of

the French tendency to add -s when referring to groups of people, the -s

then being retained. An -r- intruded too. Marquette went down the

Mississippi (which he called the Conception) to the mouth of the Arkansas

in 1673. He entered the Mississippi via the Wisconsin R but returned

to Lac des Ilinois (Lake Michigan ) via the Illinois R. DMLance