Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/382

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316
Lewis A. McArthur

has an elevation of 2755 feet, and is in the Grande Ronde valley.

Alkali Lake, Lake County. This playa occupies the southern portion of a broad shallow basin northeast of Lake Abert. The water is highly concentrated, the dissolved salts averaging 10 per cent of the weight of the total brine. This lake, together with many other lakes, playas and streams, received its name on account of the alkaline salts dissolved in the water.

Allegany, Coos County. Allegheny is the modern spelling of a Delaware Indian word for the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers. The word is used for many features in the United States, including the Allegheny Mountains in the eastern United States, and for a county, city and river in Pennsylvania. There are several variations of the spelling. This post office was established March 25, 1893, with Wm. Vincamp first postmaster.

Alma, Lane County. Alma, is in the southwestern part of Lane County, on the Siuslaw River. Alma is a Latin word meaning "bountiful."

Aloha, Washington County. Aloha is a station on the Southern Pacific line just west of Beaverton and has an elevation of 213 feet. Its name was chosen in 1912 by Robert Caples, and is an Hawaiian word. The meaning of the word Aloha is varied according to the relationship existing between the persons using the word and also depending upon the time of day it is used and whether it is at a meeting or a departure. It also depends to a certain extent upon what conversation took place just previous to its use and the gesture which ofttimes accompanies it. On meeting anyone in the morning the use of the word indicates "good morning" and in the evening "good evening," but on leaving at night it means "good night." If it is used at the time of departure on a journey it means "farewell," and it is also very generally used as an affectionate greeting even when addressed to strangers.