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

culated time when it should pass, it tie
esrths motion were uniform. Ana such
is ostcnsibly the present standard among
enlightened nations.
As. however, each locality has its own
meridian, so, to have true time, each must
have its own astronomer and its own regu- |
lator. But when, from the perfection of |
the mechanics arts, this seemed fairly with |
in the reach of the smallest communities, |
steam and electricity gave phase to the |
leading activities of civilization which rem
dered this localized time standard, however
exact, inadequate to modern wants,
Lines of steam communication extending
over many degrees of longitude, controlled
by single mind, through the instrumon-
tallty of the telegraph, necessarily annlhl-
| lates local time in every locality, ana 10
every person under their control. The
| timetable of road can be the time OF
neither one locality nor another--lt Is the
time Of the regulator, wherever it may be,
or to whatever adjusted, and all the
branches and shops must yield to this con-
trolling standard. No road can afford the
risk of dissimlar time in any of its de-
partments.
In this manner the standard-clock Of the
Baltimore and Ohio road controls the time
from the Chesapeake to the Ohio river, the
PENNSYLVANIA Central from Now York to Il Q
Ohio, and the New York Central from the
Hudson to the Lakes. In like manner, in
not less than eighty per cent. OF the larger
villages of the country is meridian time
subverted, to greater or less degree, by
railroad time and wherever two or more
lines pass the same point, each bringing its
own time, agreeing neither with each other
nor with the local time, it results in great
confusion and uncertainty. Business houses
are necessitated to the keeping of both
kinds of time, aud business men to the
carrying of duplicate time-pieces.
The subjecting of any portion OF COM
munity to time standard from 10 to 40
minutes apart from its local time is certain
" public Inconvenience, and passes even
beyond that if there be two or three such
segregations in the same locality.
This condition of affairs, only to be ag-
gravated as roads are multiplied or CONSOLE
dated, is upon its face too chaotic to meet
the demands Of business as vast and intri-
cate as that which now seeks transit over
steam roads.
Meridian time being virtually oyerthrown
as o standard time, leaving for each COM
nunity only the standard of some regula-
tor, perhaps five hundred miles distant. it
would appear that the time has come for
the consideration of some new standard
which should remove the present irregu.
larities and respond to the wants OF the
S age.
q What then seems to be the demand Of
T the age in reference to time standard?
|. 1t may be remarked as incident to O
e consideration of the demands of the present
age, that it is peculiarly an age of consoli
! dalton. AT no period of history has thu
human race been so interlocked in com
mon destiny. Neither communities, no
! States, nor nations, longer hold an isolated
existence. A locality no longer CONSTITUTES
e lesser whole with individual interests, it il
p a fragment Of the greater whole with inter
ests and issues in common. A railroad NJ
longer projects its way from village to vii
lege, but draws its line across continent
A Chicago fire impoyerishes broadcast owe
America and Europe, and the cause OF tn
Alabama is the cause of mankind. In thes
y broader sweeps Of human effort in this uni
Id versal gathering up of purposes to on
common end, all local aims and local differ
ences become subordinate or are swep
aside.
ut The whole tendency Of the age is towaf
measures for universal good. Colonial ist
~ lation gave way to general government
local legislation to national, q multiple
currency to uniform. And now con
merce seeks to unite its local lines of trait
into continental highways and science
gather into uniformity its thousand scatte
ed hourly meteorological observations.
II. 1t may safely be assumed that at tt
present time in this country steam tran
portation surpasSes in importance and
nv nv general benefit any other interest OF labt
1T or production. Without steam transports
:, ton neither the agriculture, manufacture
to- nor commerce of to-day could be sustalne
ct The requirements, therefore, Of stea
he transportation, whatever they may b
s Se- must from their nature, as they do in fac
subordinate every other. Whatever Is !
OF quisite for its highest and most compile
!. success it must have and in due time W
have.
EN- For the safety Of life and property
~ found positive uniformity of time alo
the entire length of its road an absolt
or necessity, and SO established il. As
w roads have become consolidated into me
, np extended lines, they have hesitated to
VA. tablish road time throughout their Il
ia. stretching domain, simply because it CO
nv fcted with local time. But that the p
AT sent disiointed and conflicting time star
HE ards, so unsuited to the wants of this ]
ech. mense human interest, can long stand
its way, no one can for moment suppo
The demand of this great interest, so int
woven with individual safety and collect
prosperity, is for one uniform time throus
out the entire country, by which eve
D. road connection and branch may be guit
and every train be run. This would
once reduce this confusion to order and c
ny RE, tainty, and add to the safety of life and
zoe general public welfare.
Besides this demand of transported
itself, such uniform time would con-
and butte greatly to public convenience.
ung American people have in the last TWEEN
,ton five wears come to be travelling peol
l.. Thousands daily waken in the morn
hundred Of miles from the place of vest
low days transaction, when, unless moder
experts in astronomy, they are utterly :
loss to know whether the train which Il
i, desire to take at seven will leave at h
,r sIs past six or seven, or half.past seven by
ona' watch which served them yesterday. 4
ood. to determine whether they can make {
e"'' nections and proceed on their journey W
.t;on out delay, they must take latitude