Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-29
The Proposed Time Change.

Inc proposed Zinc CnanSes
WHAT THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS SAY ABOUT IT.
The District Commissioners have not yet acted
upon the letter Of Secretary Chandler stating that
he will be glad to be Informed If you see any OH
lection to adopting ON and after the 18th OF NOvem
Der, the time of the seventy fifth meridian, as the
local time of Washington, being change of eight
minutes and twelve seconds in the present city
time, and which has been recommended by the
superintendent of the Naval Observatory in the
accompanying memorandum" The memorandum
OF the superintendent Of the Naval Observatory,
to which allusion is made, is as follows: eThe
Naval Observatory has been furnishing the time OF
the meridian of Washington and the meridian Of
New York to the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany during fourteen years past. These signals
have been used regulate the time on many OF the
railroads which now seek to obtain their time
direct from the observatory. The Navy depart
ment has approved the furnishing Of time directly
tendent Of the observatory, and requested by the
secretary of the general time convention in Chicago
standard time Of the southern railway time conven-
ton, New York. The new time will 60 into effect
on November 49,, 1888, on all the railroads. The
desirable that this standard time a Of the seventy
fifth meridian should be adopted as the local time
OF washington WASH city; This would involve change
spending one In the Office hours Of all the depart
mentS'
WHAT COMMISSIONER EDMoNDs SAYS
Commissioner EdmondS stated to STAR reporter
letter of Secretary Chandler, and he did not see
that the local authorities of this city had anything
to do with the matter The only thing he regretted
was that the change seems to have been inspired in
the interests OF few railroad mOnopoeS and for
their convenience. AS he understood the matter it
was proposed to divide the continent up into three
or four sections divisions, with reference to rail-
road centerS and for their convenience, and the
movers now want municipalities and local govern
mentS to fall into the same reckoning of time. He
saw no special objection to it and probably will
not combat it. Commissioner EdmOndS also stated
that he regretted that they proposed to carry the
meridian away from Washington for our local
time.
COMMISSIONER WEST SAID
he saw no objection to the removal of the initial
point for reckoning Of local time, that there is
uniformity between the large cities 1t is some
thing we will soon get used to.
Official action may not be taken until the ap-
pearance of Major Lydecker again.
NAVAL ORDERs.-Lieut. Robert H. Mclean to the
Alliance, 1st November; Chief Engineer David
Smith to duty at the Washington navy yard; Passed
Assistant Engineer Francis NJ. Ashton in charge of
the machinery OF the iron clads at the navy yard,
tached from duty In the photographic Office and
ordered to the receiving vessel Wyandote at Wash
ington, on the 2sth instant; Lieut. w. L. Field from
duty on the Asiatic station, when Rear
months, with permission to remain abroad:
Passed Assistant Surgeon Ernest NOrfleet,
from the naval hospital, Mare Island, and
and on her arrival at Yokohama to report for duty
at the naval hospital there. Chief Engineer John
Lowe, from the w aShfngtOn navy yard, and ordered
to the Yantic. The orders OF Lieut. F. j. Milligan,
been ordered to hold himself in readiness for orders
to the OSSipee.