The Evening critic., 1882-05-18
Adjournment of Both Branches is
Imminent.
The Appropriation Bills.
The Engineers, Convention.

The Association of Civil Engineers did not
assemble until o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The Committee on the Preservation Of Tim
ber made n verbal report, which was followed
by brief discussion. An interesting report
was then read upon the subject of standard
time by Mr.. Sanford Fleming, Of ottawa, Can.
Mr.. Fleming is the chairman of a committee
appointed by the American Society Of Civil En-
gineers at its meeting at Montreal, on the 9th of
June, 1881. The committee at the New York
convention submitted scheme for the estab-
lishment Of prime meridian and Of uniform
standard time, and were authorized to secure
an expression OF opinion upon the various
points which presented themselves from as
large number Of practical and scientific mon
as possible.
BY the scheme referred to it is proposed,
first, to establish one universal standard time
common to all people throughout the world
for the use of railways, telegraphs and steam
boats, for the purposes OF trade and commerce.
for general scientific observations and for
every ordinary local purpose. Second, 1t Is
proposed that standard time everywhere shall
be based on the one unit measure of time, de-
noted by the diurnal revolution. OF the earth,
as determined by the mean solar passage, at
one particular meridian to be selected as q
time zero.
Third The time zero TO coincide with the
initial or prime meridian 10 be common to all
nations for computing terrestrial longitude.
Fourth-The time zero and prime meridian
| of tho world TO be established with the concur
renee Of civilized nations generally.
Fifth-For the purpose of regulating time
everywhere II is proposed that the unit meas
| ure, determined as above, shall be divided
| into twenty-four equal parts, and that these
parts shall be defined by standard time meri-
| dians established around the globe, fifteen de-
grees OF longitude or one hour distant from
each other.
Sixth-It is proposed that the standard time
shall be determined and disseminated under
| governmental authority that time signal sta
| lions be established at important centres for
| the purpose of disseminating correct time with
aas..a hat Ia,o
| public clocks be controlled electrically from
| the public time stations, or otherwise Kept In
| perfect agreement.
| Seventh-The adoption OF the system In the
| United States and Canada would, exclusive Of
| Newfoundland and Alaska, have the effect OF
reducing the standards Of time to four. These
| four standards, precisely one hour apart
| would govern the time OF the whole country
| each would have the simplest possible rela
| ton to the other, and all would bear equally
| simple relations to the other standards of the
| world.
Finally, 1t is proposed to have only one Sc
ries OF hours in the day, extending from mid
| night to midnight, and numbered from one L
| twenty-four without interruption; to number
| the hours between midnight and noon Zone t
| twelye) precisely as at present and to denote
| the hours between noon and midnight by let
| ters of the alphabet.
| 10 the series OF questions which accom-
| panied this scheme the committee has re
ceiyed hundreds Of replies, and Mr.. Fleming
In his report to the society, gave a classified
statement of their purp0rt as follows: 81 pei
| cent. VI uil lno NIlltl5 Improve ll0 Scuolni
which has been submitted 10 the society, ant
which Is now under consideration; 76 pc
| cent. express themselves as In favor of fou
| standard merldianS in North America, ON
hour or fifteen degrees apart; @ per cent
favor two meridians, and Il small minorit
| prefer one continental meridian.
| In reply to the question with regard to
| change in the rotation of tho hours of til
| day, a very large majority of the committed
| coTIespondence-92 per cent. OF tho Who'll
| number-eXpress themselves In favor OF count
ing from one to twenty-four consecutively. Il
conclusion, Mr.. Fleming said "Upon the rt
| piles received 10 Its questions, the committe
| is fully warranted In reporting that there
throughout the country very strong sent
ment in favor Of establishing a system {
| standard time upon the basis OF the schem
which the society now has under considers
| ton"
The report OF the committee was approve
| by the society, and resolutions were adopte
| requesting the Congress of the United State
to take the initiative step by endeaYorlng
establish prime meridian which shall l
common TO all nations.
| A paper was then read by A. c. Menocal,
| S. n, on the reconstruction OF quay wall
Norfolk, Va. The evening session was take
terlals" and Of "the overflow in the Missl
sippi Valley"
Tomorrow morning the members OF the 8
| clcty Will make an excursion to Mount Yerno
and in the evening will attend reception,
| be given by Mr.. Ashbel Welch, the preside
OF the society, and Miss Weich