The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-13
The Boundaries of tie Time Belts.


i good many people are pulling
over their map Just now to under
5 nd the change of time, and some
q them complain of uncertain knowl-
edge as TO the exact extent of each of
the four great time belts OF fifteen de-
greeS, or one hour ca h, into which
the United States are divided. Some
published statements that each OF
the belts takes its time from its east
ernmOSt meridian have naturally
added to the confusion. The state
ment refuteS itself, because the great |
object sought in arranging the new
system has been to make as little YaTi-
alton as possible, on the average, |
from the local time; and therefore |
the meridian which gives time to the |
belt should be as nearly rs possible IN |
the center. This was so arranged. I!
The seYeuty-iifth, ninetieth, one hun |
dred and fifth, and one hundred and
tw, ntieth meridian5 run down about
the center of the respective belts TO
which they give time.
The extent OF the belt on each side
of the meridian would properly be
seven and one-half degrees, making
the extreme variation of time within
that belt from the meridian only half
an hour. But it was not practicable
to make d rigid division Of the coun-
| try on astronomical lines. All cities
and towns of 10000 or 10000 inhabi-
| tants get their time from the rail-
roads-have, in fact, usually no other
means OF getting it. 1t was necessary
therefore TO have regard to the con.
Yenience to railroads, which could not
change their time within few miles,
say, of terminus, just because me-
ridian crossed there. The division OF
the country just adopted is railroad
division and not an astronomical one;
and it is to the representative OF the
railroads, Mr.. w. +. Allen, that the
credit Of change is Largely due.
Eastern time-cr that of the sew
enty-iifth meridian, which runs a
little east of extends
over all New England, and in the
middle states to Buffalo, Salamanca
and Pittsburg; and practically over
the whole Of Virginia, West Virginia.
North Carolina and South Carolina.
. In Canada occurs one OF the Unequal
! tiles of the new system compelled by
the necessities of the railroads. There
is no point there at which a change
could well be made, and so eastern
: time extends as far as Windsor, oppo-
site Detroit. Detroit is included in
the central time belt, and between
the two cities there will be differ
ence of an hour. The central time
belt, taking its time from the nine.
tieth meridian, which runs through
New Orleans and little east of st
Louis, covers all of Ohio IPf'Hna
Illinois and Iowa, with all the states
north OF them to the Canada line anC
: south to thegulf and Rio Grande. The
| western bouu Diary line OF the "cen
G traF' time-belt is an irregular lint
4 running west Of the western bordel
/ of Minnesota, crossing Nebraska anC
: Kansas and Indian Territory, apt
touching the Rio Grande about half
t way between the gulf and Ell Paso
t From this line begins the mountain
y time-belt, which takes its time from
e the one hundred and fifth meridian
Z. running close to Denver, and has d
a its western border Montana, Wyom
ing, part of Utah, and all Of Arizona
q The "Pacilic" time-belt, which take
y its time from the one hundred ant
3 twentieth meridian, running nea
n Santa Barbara, Cal, covers all from
n here to the ocean. Any one taking
Il the trouble to consult map will Sc
q that the meridians in each of thes
n belts occupies position sufficient
central for all practical purposes.