, 1869-07-17
standard Civ TErneA


To tAe Efitor e} Tbs cAsaayo TRIBUNE: =
In connection with the two articles on this sub
tect which haSc appeared In TIE Ts1nuHE,th fol
lowing statements mar not be ont OF place:
The Observatory is prepared md willing
10 undertake the regulation of the principal clocks
In the city 10 uniform standard lime BY Soma
method which shall secure the attainment Of TINT
end.
But the Observatory has no corpa Of Assistants
who arc available for that OF any scientific work
without compensation, and my o~n time and
strength arc fnljy required to carry out precious
engagements for scientific Eosk proper, among
which u m engagement with tho Geruan Astro-
ntr,cal Society u make from 20, 200 to $1,000 OBJ
| sersatious tn st1 TO eight 5earx-
Ny only na5sstants arc my pupGA the young gen
tieEen mentioned tn your Issue OF the 18th
Meks:a Skinner and store-the one Of whom re-
ce1yea about 500 annually, In the hope some time
Of earning his living By astronomy, and the otner
ls actually Prole ssor IN The Northwestern Female
College, 81 Evanston Still third young gentle
man-Mr ". L. Aeteal, also OF great prom!se-ts
teaching In Wisconsin, Alter remaining as long
here az his pecuulAr5 Interests would hlloT, hop
Ing 70 return sad complete his studies in practical
astronomy and higher uaihemaucs. 1nal these
cases the gentlemen IN question arc really proles
siona students Of astronomy and not assistant oo-
seTert.
2 To cal13 out, then, shy system Of regulation
for this ely, 1t Is desirable that the Observatory
shall receive proper compensation therefor; In
which case the work can bc guaranteed to b well
done.
3. The method suggested IN TIE TstBUsE Of
the l5th requires striking CLOCK for tho city.
which does not extst sotar ~ know; the bel -
now es.utk hourly by hard IN moro OF les neaz
agreement With the Indications Of = xatcn, which
again is pow ana then rrgn1 ated to agrte Flth the
true time, 10 fnat as everybody fuora, the "citY
tines may differ from one hour 10 anoiher md
MAY he any Nheta Ftthin trt minutes Of the truth
And I do. not think the shole. Present sz4nso.
1ent ~ Je15 cheap one for tue CITY govefument.
4. 1t H. hiRhlY desirable that1he various clocks
to be regulated ,strtetnE clock q the Czty
Hall, tho ono. on the Chamber IT Ooun1re, and
those at the various railway. Btstona and other
public pisoes Shall te AynchronouA that1 eFhtbst
the sane time III nextfJ ~ possible. Geatamen
who bars NICE yfstcAez tao Then ten not only the
e,1o11 bot tho TatEs nf Their watches oy '1nspec-
ton. IN case. however. the clocks are not made
r5nchrunoas By electricity. they VII. from time 70
time. vary; and not vesy costly clocks, viii soon
change In the seconds untr the variation aIuounta
to ono minute, wheu tha minute may be altered !;
or else the clock be stopped from umd to time aud
L me electric .nerpod Il. much the most perfect,
! and the most worthy Of great city Ike Chicago
Il ia nox employed largely In Europe, and va
haze the details Of tts working It London. Glaa-
| gov and St. Petersburg. I learn lhst ht Pitts
burgh the system Ia likely TO 60 into operation, as
It undoubtedly would at soroe other Eastern cities
II the naniis OF ptov1a1ng time there were not al
4 ready nxed. tnlu1 there Hlllbe no dltlcalty Ia
sr.angtng the cost Of this electric melnod 80 that
It shall falI in the Just proportion upon the differ
ent interests, namely, the municipality, the gen
! eral puolie, and railway aud other corporations,
| But the Observatory Board would, suspect, de-
cline 70 q.oyide timn for my single Interest, L she
| present confusion il 10 continue. The uniformity
I Of tine Throughout the city would be most
| worthy object to secuse- T. 4 sArFoRD.
CHICAGO, duly 1G 1863.