The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-18

every place is to hamper a public benefit |
and curtail its usefulness yet otherwise,
with our local time, it would be completely
useless.
Every shipmaster aud merchant in Chi
cago might not recollect that tornado at
Cleveland, at IL o'clock, making for his
city, will reach him an hour sooner than IT
coming from the west at equal speed and
distance.
In the same manner that the signal SER
vice relieved itself of the almost endless
labor of reducing every observation to
common standard by establishing uniform
ity would it be relieved of task scarcely
less onerous and useless had the country,
like this bureau, one uniform time through
out its entire domain.
A third consideration arises in connection
with the telegraph. The telegraph in its
very nature annihlates in fact time and dis
lance, and brings remote communities side
by side.
This marvellous vehicle of thought is yet
PROFESSIONALLY in its very infancy. At no
distant period the telegraph must become
the great instrument Of the intercommuni-
cation of thought. Country and city alike
| will be threaded, and if, indeed, the wire
does not enter every household, it will at
least. like the penny-post, have its point Of
communication at every square.
1t is, perhaps, difficult for us readily to
accept that which, from the very nature of
the instrument, Hnust come to be Its COM
| mon use. Here is an instrument of
thought, and of thought only, and instantly
conveys its burden as in conversation. So
| far as it fails to do this, which is its ulti-
mate end, it fails Of what it must be. sit
in my house on Capitol Hill. | desire to
speak with friend IN Georgetown. That
should be obliged to transport my body,
when the thought itself might be
instantly transmitted, will come to
be an absurdity. Nor will it be mes
sage. 1t is not message that transacts
business--it is query and answer. ] sum-
mon him to his district station, and re-
pair to mine al o'clock, or IL or 10 min
utes to l.. We interchange penny con-
versation, Or, perhaps, half-dime, and in
moment our business is complete. In
like manner one wishes TO consult his
agent at Baltimore or New York, and de-
signates the time of meeting. With our
present fragmentary time such Geographic
intercourse, to any extent, is impossible.
If, therefore, this or any similar extend
ed use of this instrument be within reason
able expectation, it will follow almost as q
r.qusite that the telegraph for itself will
assume common time.
1t appears, therefore, that these three
, great public interests steam roads, the
signal service, and the telegraph-the only
( important branches of industry into which
they largely enter, all make the same al
most imperative dcmand-so imperative, a
t least in two Of the instances, that they
have been compelled to establish such
3 time for their own individual use.
. The question hence recurs'whether tn
r time has not arrived for the establishment
| of uniform time throughout the country
q Such uniformity, and nothing less, Wi
$ meet the wants of ell these extended an
: national enterprises, and such uniformit
D would at once contribute to the safety {
: life, the facility of intercourse, to the trar
/. sits of commerce, to public convenience
r and the general welfare.
@ A measure having in itself so many an
e SO decisive points Of advantage, would,
i should seem, need only be brought to put
C lie consideration to secure its adoption.
: 1t may, however, be thought at fir'
It glance, that such change would necess;
rily be attended with serious inconvenience
d The most cursory examination, however
: shows that the fancied disadvantages pc
j. sess too little worth to merit serious consi'
t, Grafton beside the benefits to be gained.