Madras, Jefferson County, Oregon, USA (standard:non fiction, 358 words)
Author: Juggernaut	Added: Apr 07 2012	Views/Reads: 2876/0	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
There is a small town named 'Madras' in Oregon, USA, What?

Madras, Jefferson County, Oregon, USA 

Subba Rao 

“What?  There is a town named Madras in USA?” Dan expressed his 

surprise. 

“Yeah, there is a town named Madras in Oregon State here in 

US,” Juggernaut replied as matter of fact. 

“Why?” 

“What you mean why; anybody can name a place Madras or New 

Delhi or Calcutta in any part of the world.” 

“You mean there is a place called New Delhi in USA?” 

“Yes, there is a small town in Illinois in USA named New Delhi, 

so what?” 

“OK,” I got it but there must be some reason or connection to 

name a place after an established or well know name; there is no town 

in India named ‘Washington' or Lincoln.” 

“True, but India is an ancient country with villages and towns 

named hundreds and thousands of years ago; they can perhaps change it 

now to any other name preferable to the citizens but again they have 

more serious problems than changing the name of their town.” 

“Like what?” 

“Like having toilet connected to an outside underground sewer 

line not draining into an outside open sewer or worse into a septic 

tank contaminating the groundwater.” 

“OK, please don't drag me into your favorite subjects ‘septic 

tanks and sewage treatment,” “Let's get back to Madras in Oregon,” Dan 

seems annoyed. 

“Well, a small place in Jefferson County in Oregon was named 

Madras in 1903 probably for the cotton fabric imported from town named 

Madras (now called Chennai) in India, the town population now is around 

6000 and perhaps none of the citizens now care to know why their town 

was named after Madras in India.” 

“Is there anything special about Madras, Oregon?” 

“Well, there is a regional airport named ‘Bombay Farms Airport' 

near Madras and actor River Phoenix now dead was born in Madras.” 

“Do you think people of Madras, Oregon should consider changing 

the name to Chennai since Madras in India was changed to Chennai?” 

“Hell, no; we Americans are leaders not followers, we don't 

follow other nations,” Juggernaut was serious. 

“True, true,” Dan rubbed his both his cheeks up and down with 

his right palm to sooth himself. 


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