Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-21
CITY AND DISTRICT.
TUENEX-FOUR EIOUR DiALS.
A Proposed Reform i'm the Method Of
Time coping.

THr SUGGESTED CHANGE IN TIE DIsIs-THE
C'<TaF RE-AREANGING CLOCKS AND WATCHES
OH ENGLISH WATCHES WITH TwENTY-FOrR
H1yR DIALs. SC.
Following close upon the ADOPT on of the new
standard time comes the suggestion that the old
system OF the division of tie day into two II
hour portions be done away with. and that be-
ginning at either sunset or sunrise. the hours
be counted from one tO tweGtv-four. Already
the southern railroads nave adopted this new
method and il is probable that it will soon come
Into more general use. In order to ascertain
what the opinions of the scientists and jewelers.
"a TO the feasibility and advantages of this
change might be. a number of them were in.
tervieved by TIE STAR and the results are
giyef. belO,v.
TIE OPINION OF PROF. NEwCOMB.
Prof. simon Newco'nb was found at his desk
In the Nautical Almanac Office, having lust re-
turned from u trip east
Il think that it wOuld be very convenient"
he Observed. as the reporter finished speaking
OF the proposed change, especially when peo-
pie travel But the general Introduction of such
q system depends entirely upon the action OF
The people This involves change in what we
ali have been accustomed to. and it will there
fore. he slow IN making its way into general
use
When reminded that on the southern roads
this rev system of reckoning the hours had
already Teen introduced Prof. Newcomb said:
''lu that case it will b. comparatively easy to
make the system a general one The railroads
ought To adopt It first. for there is where it is
most needed great confusion in the time
tables would be avoided l. the terms a. IN. and
=. IN. CUl.d be done away with. Some of the
roads attempted to meet this difficulty by print
Ing all The a m times III black type and the p.
IN. in lighter type"
''The true way. however" continued the pro-
fesSCr. ':S to substitute some thing that can be
generally adopted. and the q system is
natural and convenient one. You see there
would BE- no absolute necessity for changing
the faces of the Clocks. The change could be
made on the time tables and the faces of the
clocks could still divide the day into portions of
~ hours All that would be necessary is math-
ematIcsil ability enough to substract ~ and
guess that nearly every one can do that OF
pinch"
The professor smiled slightly and then cast a
longing look at the papers piled up on the desk,
and So the reporter performed the mathemati-
Cal feat OF subsracting himself from bis presence.
PROF. CLEVELAND ABBE's VIEWS
THE necessity for this change remarked
Professor Cleveland Abbe. pausing moment
I'm his work, "arises from the very appreci-
able Disadvantage attending the present div-
sion into twciye-hOur sections. The first of
these disadvantages is obviously the necessity
OF using always ip speech the word forenoon or
afternoon. In order to identify the portion of
the day TO which the hour mentioned is to be
referred. Ihel IN writing. to place after the
number or the hour the explanatory sufliX a.
u or y. H. Aside from these circumstances is
the difficulty of distinguishing on railroad time
table the afternoon and the forenoon times
The chan re is good one and is a continuation
OF the policy of introducing uniformity into all
matters OF international moment. In Italy the
fwent y-tOUr hour method prevails and has been
In use for a great many years. They begin at
sunset and count from one up 10 twenty-four
hours. II Astronomical work this division of
fine is observed. On the other hand the Chi
nese divide the whole day into twelve parts
each equal to two hours Ct Cur fine"
Il see. Continued the professor ''that the
southern railroads have already adopted this
plan"
lis there an organized effort to secure the
general adoption Of this new SyStem:" asked the
reporter.
II don't think that there is any particular
effort being made 10 bring about this ore thing"
was the reply 1T IL simply one OF several re-
forms which have been set on foot to secure I'M
Eorfnity n time. The pan is not new one
but it WAS thought best first to accomplish the
acceptance OF a plan OF uniform time in this
Country before urging other details tending to
this result The uniform time standard has now
been adopted universally throughout this coun-
b
venience to the people"
WASHINGTON THE EXCEPTION
'FIou forget. perhaps" suggested the listener,
''that in this city the new standard has not been
accepted
THAT is true" was the qniet response, ''and
1t was expected that there must be some legal
recognition OF the proposed change. At first
the friends of the new standard wanted to go to
Congress at once. and secure the adoption Of
the new time. and then try to Introduce it into
general use. but objections were made to this
a II was feared that a further delay might arise.
The railroads. which are OF course largely in
fuehtia n such a matter decided to adopt it,
and they could do so. without the consent OF
Congress. 1T IL necessary that the new time
should receive the sanction of Congress- and
have no doubt but that it will be done"
Does any system Of uniform time prevail i'm
other cOuntrieS5' asked the reporter
scientific men. responded the professor ''in
fhtr magnetic observations. as well as in Obser-
Nations of earthquake waves in the ocean, tides
and meteorological phenomena. have employed
uniform time over large portions of the earth
NayigatOTS and explorers have for the past two
centuries, carried Greenwich mean time on their
voyages and travels During the past So wears
In Great Britain. the Greenwich time has been
used. and il recognized by law as the time. In
Russia Pouik0ya time is employed as the stand
ard time. In Switzerland and some portions of
Germany Uniform standard of time prevails
THE ERA OF UNIFORMITY.
THE geoGetic convention now In session i'm
Rome" resumed the professor, "is composed of
representatives from all the governments of the
world The delegates are not only considering
questions Of uniform time. but of weights and
measures. and other matters relating to inter
national Intercourse. Congress has authorized
The Calling of q convention to be held in this
city in the spring. and to be composed of repre-
sentatIves from every nation. for the purpose of
considering the feasibility of the adoption of a
common time unit. To be- applicable throughout
the globe The Secretary of state has sent out
circulars with the view OF ascertaining whethe
the different nations would participate i'm such
a convention end think that it will he held
Inc Object oi the adoption of a common unit of
time Is To TX upon some line or meridian at
which one day shall end for this globe and an
other day begin IL has been suggested by
President barnard. OF Columbia college. that
the zero meridian be placed at $50 degrees from
Greenwich"
ITO snow how the system of uniformity
reaches on; towards perfection" continued the
professor, lit is urged that the earth be divided
Into u time belts Some also desire to make
tie divisions Of tine To correspond with the
1hetrical system. which would divide the day
into 10 hours and the hour into 100 minutes and
The minutes into 100 seconds. and so adjust the
standard section that 100 90 seconds would be