Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-10-12
TIMETABLE CONVENTION.
important Action Looking to the AdOp-
tiOn of Uniform Time Standards.

tiOn of Uniform Time standards.
Chicago. October 1.-THE annual Rail-
way Timetable Convention began here
this morning, and is being attended by
representatives from nearly every i'm
8 portant railway in the country. In addi-
ton to arranging the winter timetables,
it is proposed to take definite action on
the adoption by railroads throughout the
country of the proposed plan for uniform
time standards. The new plan has been
termed the "Hour System" 1t provides
for standards differing from each other by
exactly one hour, leaving on the eastern
and western extremes OF the continent.
There are eastern, central and mountain
times. The first will be employed from
New Brunswick to the meridian of De-
troit the second as far west as the boun-
dary below Kansas and Colorado, and the
third line between Utah and Nevada. 1t
is proposed that all roads now using Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more, Toronto, Hamilton or Wash
ington time as the standard are to
be governed by the eastern or seventy
fifth meridian time-4 minutes slovenian
New York. This includes roads run by
Portland, Providence, New London, Mon
treal, Albany, Richmond and Charleston
time. In addition to those specified, roads
now using Columbus, Savannah, Atlanta,
Cincinnati, Louisville, indianapolis, Chi
cago, Jefferson City, st. Pau or Kansas
City shall be run by the central, or nine
teenth meridian time, 8 minutes slower
than Chicago time. This includes roads
run by Macon, Rome, Nashville, Selma,
Mobile, st. Louis, Nicksburg, Dubuque,
Minneapolis, st. Joseph, Galveston, Hous-
ton and Omaha time. West of this roads
are to be run by the mountaintime, or eX-
aetly that of Denver. 1t is stated that the
Eastern district standard time has been
used by all roads between Boston and
Montreal since last Sunday, with the pos
sible view OF first testing the plan.
Mr.. p. p. Wright, general superin-
tendent of the Lake Shore road, was
called to the chair. w. +. Allen was
chosen secretary. Number of delegates
present. SO. The secretary announced
that he had received affirmative replies
from the managers of 10000 miles of track
to the proposed uniform schedule. The
following was submitted and adopted:
WHEREAS, The managers of $4,000 miles
OF road have voted in favor of adopting
the system of time stated at the last con-
yention, we hereby pledge ourselves to
adopt the same and run trains by it when
ever the next schedules go into effect.
The only roads voting against the propo
sition were the Michigan Central, Detroit
Lansing and Northern, and Detroit anC
Grand Haven, and the Milwaukee. The
reason assigned by the former was that i
crossed the meridian and could not adap'
its running arrangements to the new plaT
at present without great inconvenience
1t was stated i'll the convention that th'
road in question would doubtless sooI
adopt the new schedule.
1t was decided that the presen
schedules should remain in force unit
November Sth, when the new schedule
will go into effect.
The secretary read a communication
from Commodore Shpfeldt, in charge c
The naval observatory at Washington, i
which he congratulated the conyentio
upon the change contemplated, and sal
that while he thought a single STANDARD
would be better from a scientific point q
view, he thought the present change
long stride in the right direction. Com
modore shufeldt promised the co-opera
ton of the naval observatory in carryin
out the policy Of the convention. He sal
the observatory would change the time {
dropping the New York ball to the mea
time of the 18th meridian, and in additio
would endeavor to secure the adoption fo
local time in the whole section in which
is to be used for railroads. The observator
could furnish the time of the 18th an
goth meridians to railroads throughoutth
country only.
J. Il. Edmunds, in charge OF the Bosto
observatory, telegraphed he convention
follows; The city, the railroads and I'll
observatory only wait the affirmative voI
Of the convention before fixing the date
changing all public time IN Bqsto1.
The convention adjourned Tor the day
% otc1nrI n m,