Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-24

From the New York Tribune.
good many people are puzzling over their
maps just now to understand the change of
time, and some of them complain of uncertain
knowledgaas to the exact extent of each Of the
four great time belts of fifteen degrees or one
hour each, into which the United States are d.
vided. Some published statements that each Of
the belts takes its time from its easternmost
meridian have naturally added to the confusion
The statement refutes itself, because the great
object sought in arranging the new system has
been to make as little variation as possible, on
the average, from the local time; and therefore
the meridian which gives time to the belt should
be as nearly as possible in the center. This was
80 arranged. The seventy-ffth, pinetieth one
hundred and fifth. and One-hundred and TWEEN
t1eth merldians run down about the center of
the respective belts to which they give time
The extent of the belt on each side of the merf-
dian would properly be seven and one-half de-
grees, making the extreme variation Of time
within that belt from the meridian only half an
hour But 1t was not practicable to make a
rigid division CT the country on astronomical
lines All cities and towns of q, 600 or 80 GOO
inhabitants get their time from the railroads
have In fact, usually no other means Of getting
1t. 1t was necessary therefore to have regard
to the convenience of railroads. which could not
| change their time within a few miles, saw of q
terminus, just because meridian crossed there
The division of the country just adopted is
railroad division and not an astronomical one;
and it's to the representative Of the railroad,
Mr.. W. F. Allen, that the credit Of change is
largely due.
eastern" time-or that of the seventy-ffth
meridian, which runs little east of Philadel-
phia-extends over all New England, and in the
middle states to Buffalo. Salamanca and Pitts
burg; and practically over the whole of Vir-
ginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina. In Canada occurs one of the inc
qualities OF the new system compelled by the
necessities of the railroads. There is no point
and SO eastern time extends as far as Wind
sor. opposite Detroit. Detroit is included in the
central time-belt, and between the two cities
there will be difference of an hour. The
central time-belt, taking its time from the
ninetieth meridian. which runs through New
Orleans and little east of st. Louis, covers all
of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, aud Iowa. with all the
states north Of them to the Canada line and
south to the Gulf and the Rio Grande The
western boundary line of the central" time
belt is an irregular line running west of the
western border of Minnesota. crossing Nebraska
| and Kansas and Indian Territory. and touching
the Rio Grande about halfway between the
Gulf and Ell Paso. From this line begins the
mountain" time-belt, which takes it time from
the one hundred and fifth meridian. running
close to Denver, and has as its western border
Montana, Wyoming part of Utah, and all of Arizo-
ma. The Pacific" time-bet, which takes it's time
from the one hundred and twentieth meridian
running near Santa Barbara, Cal, covers all
from here to the ocean. Any one taking the
trouble to consult map will see that the meri-
dams in each of these belts occupies a position
sufficiently central for all practical purposes