[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E43]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     KEEP THE NAME AS DEVILS TOWER

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                           HON. BARBARA CUBIN

                               of wyoming

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to ensure 
that the name of Devils Tower National Monument remain unchanged. I 
introduced this bill during the 104th Congress and since that time I 
have received numerous positive comments and support from constituents 
from around the Devils Tower area. In fact, my office has received a 
petition with an estimated 2,000 names from not only those in and 
around the monument but from all over the country of those concerned 
with changing the name of this beloved landmark.
  For more than 100 years the name ``Devils Tower'' has applied to the 
geologic formation in my State and has since appeared as such on maps 
in Wyoming and nationwide. The name was given to the monument by a 
scientific team, directed by Gen. George Custer and escorted by Col. 
Richard Dodge in 1875, and is universally recognized as an important 
landmark that distinguishes the northeastern part of Wyoming. The 
monument has brought a vital tourist industry to that portion of the 
State due to its unique character and structure.
  According to a July 17, 1996, release by the U.S. Board on Geographic 
Names, the National Park Service has advised the board that several 
native American groups do intend to submit a proposal, if one has not 
already been submitted, to change the name of the monument. On 
September 4-6, 1996, the superintendent of Devils Tower, Deborah 
Liggett, gave a presentation at the Western States Geographic Names 
Conference in Salt Lake City, UT, giving the native American 
perspective.
  During a July 1, 1996, meeting with Ms. Liggett she gave me her 
assurance that she had no intention of proposing a name change for the 
monument, and made it clear to me that no one else was in the process 
of initiating a name change. The legislation that I am introducing 
today on behalf of the State of Wyoming will ensure that the name of 
the geological formation, historically known as Devils Tower, remain 
unchanged.
  It is my belief and the belief of hundreds of people from around the 
region that a name change will only bring economic hardship to the 
tourist industry in the area. I cannot and will not stand idly by and 
allow that to happen. I commend this bill to my colleagues and urge 
them to join me in cosponsoring it.

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