New-York tribune., 1877-06-02
SEEKING A TRUE NOON.
NEw.yORK TINE FOR NEw-YORK.

NEW-1ORk TIME fOR NEW-1Ohhs
THE WESTERN UNIONS PLAN TO TELEGRAPH Of
FIcIAL TINE FROM WASHINGTON NOT APPROVED
GREAT ACCURACY OF THE TRIBUNE CLOCK
UNCERTAINTY OF TELEGRAPBED TIME.
The recent proposal of the Western Union
Telegraph Company TO furnish NewYork with official
time, by means OF teegraphio communication from
Washington, and a ball TO be dropped at noon
OF each day from the flagstaff OF the western
Union Building, excites more comment than com
mendation among the clockmakers and tmeiur-
nshcrs of this city Not only is it denounced as an ad
vertsng scheme and trick for making money by
taxing citizens heavily time correct than
be obtained at present but the feasibility OF the plan
Is denied by those who have experienced trial OF H.
II s claimed that telegraphed time ia not always cor
rect Fluctuations from fractions OF second to three
and four seconds 81 time frequently occur between
the actual and the elegraphcd time These variations
sometimes inc0nsderabo but often amounting to note
worthy incOnsistencics-one day being half second
the next several seconds in lengthmay be caused by
nadyerence in the operators touch the varying
of speed of the electric current for those who hayo
made the matter "a study declare that damp weather de-
the speed OF electricity 1t Is known to diminish
its strength. An example OF this inaccuracy Of tele
aphod time occurred time ago in the Philadelphia
Stock Exchange, where the time, telegraphcd from
Washington and Harrisburg, official and correct
time coming from each place, often yaried-talying
day only to disagree 10y three four or five seconds
To the next. 1nc brokers' after living IN
between two " exact" times, when failed to agree.
came finally to the conclusion that Philadelphia could
furnish them with more satisfactory standard than
either Washington or Harrisburg
Changing the word Philadelphia to NewY0rk. the same
opinion is expressed In this city by those who hold the
NewYOrk standard OF time dear TO their hearts Those
who make it business To furnish time 10 ship captains
and others viii not be likely to hold their peace If the
noon furnished 10y the Western Union Company differs by
second or two from the indicated upon their in
struments. I'm such must inevitably cnsv,
which will greatly niurc the weaker party. whenever
subject declare that the Western Union, with its uncer-
tain elcgraphcd me will not prove 10 be the stronger
siblc quality. THE TRIBUNE clock. which. upon the
word OF professional cockm,kcr Wn" N'l,ci', - IL
fully the pecuiariiics of the leading clocks III tne
city, j. the most accurate IN New-1ork, is now ohy
eight seconds ou of the true time II was SCI during the
middle OF last December. and has not been regulated
ancc that time. Tlis makes a variation oi abOht TWO
snronIs "A month The Westminster clock in London,
which Is claimed 10 be the finest clock In Europe varies
about one stcnnd u week The second clock IN the ,lty
in orc,racy E The one placcd i'm the Equitable i,uildng
hut This s much smaller than THE IkBtNE ci"ck ana
much less exposed to the elements. fouI cuthH .ti-
ueurd r,spcciycIv i'm the Hoe Building the Grand Cen
troi DcpGt Dr lIals church. and the Dime Savings
Bank complete the list of trstcass tnepeots among
ihe large clocks OF the city. Trinity Chnrch clock and
lie City Han clock are said to bc rn on fecndoaSy
principles aud To he put light by their hecprIs once III
awhlc when found Ia De minue or 80 our ot me way
III. question OF interest is whether NcWlork cannot
furnish as good time for the oI It's citz na Is IN M
"'' " + Prrson the Superintendent Of +. Howard &
60 : busincSs declares that tine western Union time
ball could fan with more certainty 0f correctness
tblu ~ cOunnccng it by automatic c!cctncl apparatus
with TIE TRIBUNE clock which with niue cllelW
supry Sui could Dr made To keep Whii WOuu D. pfic
f,ly exact time. The great 81, rrucy 0 IhL lLGi NJ
clock rs now arranged tne inp'sSbiiily oi eling
exactly from the street how It's hands pointed IT. hahl
were 20 large and far from the DIAL, and ne !er was
80 high hat except a ~ and o'clock one cond not zen
from the ground within quarter of inmate OF INC
time Tn obyiaic this d.G uty Mr. Person SlggfSitd
a small dial III the counting room connected by electricity
Wn the tllc Ocll 20 stiihr tic hours, or crhap' u
bail Ike that proposed by the Western Union COMPANY
:, uny rate he tou IN NrwIOsk. when II had The cor
rect time its possession, 0us moi 10 90 t1 Washington
Tor tn,r in which 10 could uIt put certain trust Mf.
pier,o sJid be r1Ud Civ uuW'ruIS instances ~ wHrh
frc,rp cd time had hc proved to be- uutG't"oIthN'
bu none were 'tilug than the ease gwen Dy the
Ph!!adc phia StuCh LNe4ahsc.