The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-13
STANDARD TIME.
II. win go Into Effect at Noon Next
Sunday.

The standard time which goes into
effect on the 18th inst. is one of the lead
ing topics now being discussed by rail-
road men. Nearly every railway Office
III the country has been furnished with
printed copies of the reports on the sub
jcct made to the time convention held in
ST. Louis, April II, 1888. and In New
York. April IS. 1888, accompanied by a
map and document relating thereto. The
general principles to govern the plan
proposed suggested in the reports were
as follows:
That the same standard should govern
as many roads as possible.
That the standards should not extend
over so large an area of territory as to
cause standard of time to differ by more
than about thirty minutes from local time.
That each standard should vary from
the adjacent standards by the most Ieadi,
ly calculated difference, that of an even
hour.
That changes from one standard to
another should be made at well known
points of departure.
That these changes should be made at
the termini of roads. where changes
now occur, except on transcontinental
lines and in few other unfavorable
cases, when they can be made at the ends
of division.
That the seveniy-9fth meridian west
from Greenwich, being almost precisely
the central meridian for the system of
roads now using standards based upon
the time of eastern cities; and the nine
teenth meridian, being equally central for
the roads now running by the time of
western cities, the time of those meridI-
ans should be adopted for the territory
which includes nearly ninety per cent of
the whole railway system. The hour
meridians east and west of those above
named are equally well adapted as central
meridians for the roads in the section of
country adjacent thereto.
That by the adoption Of this system
all necessity for translating railroad time
into local time will be avoided, it being a
fact that such translations are not now
made at any city where all roads are run
by the same standard.
THAT the hard scrabble system now
in use with its fifty different standards
intersecting and interlacing each other,
is an abomination and nuisance which
cannot be too soon remedied."
Fifty-two roads that were represented
at the two conventions unanimously
adopted the following resolutions:
"Resolg6d that this convention recon-
mends the adoption of the following
as the future standards for the use Of the
railway lines of the country:
"Fira-That all roads now using
Boston. New York, Philadelphia Balti-
more, Toronto, Hamilton or Washington
time as standard, based upon meridians
east of those points. or adjacent thereto,
shall be governed by the 18th meridian OF
eastern time Qour minutes slower than
New York time).
".Second-rhat all roads now using
Columbus, Savannah, Atlanta, Cincinnati
Louisville, Indianapolis Chicago. Jeffer-
son City, ST. Paul or Kansas City time
or standards based upon meridians ada
cent thereto, shall be run by the nine
tenth meridian time to be called centra
time, one hour slower than eastern time
and nine minutes slower than Chicago
| time.
" NoTE.-This includes roads run by
Macon, Rome, Nashville, Selma, Mobile,
ST. Lonis, Vicksburg, Dubuque, Mime
apolis, St. Joseph, Galveston, Houston
and Omaha time. In addition to those
named above. also the Union Pacific and
North Platte and Wallace; the Burlington
and Missouri river to McCook; the Atchi
son, Topeka and Santa Fe railway to Coo
idge; the Texas Pacific to Toyan and the
Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio
to Sanderson.
"Third-That west of the above named
section the roads shall be run by the one
hundred and fifth and the one hundred
and twentieth meridian times, respective
two and three hours slower than Eastern
| time
| "Foarth-That all changes from one
hour standard to another shall be made al
the termini of roads or at the ends of di-
visions
"Fifh-That the secretary be instruct
ed to forward a copy of these resolutions
together with copy of the report of the
report of the secretary, and of the maps
accompanying the report, to all general
managers and superintendent, with re
quest for response whether they are in
favor or will not adopt the proposed stan
dard. That the secretary beinstructed &c
secure the acquiescenee of all parties to
the plan proposed. and to embody the re
plies in report in the next convention
for final action.
In obedience to the last resolution-the
secretary Of the southern time convention
forwarded the above resolutions and {
copy of his report to every railroad mana
ger and superintendent in the centrai
division, and from nearly every one Of
those officials he has received favorable
answer.
A short time ago representatives of the
roads in the Central division held meet
ing at Chicago and agreed to inauguratC
the reform suggested by the convention
on the 18th inst
The map which accompanied the report
shows it was prepared with great care, al
it is remarkably accurate in every partic-
ular.
Those railroads governed by intercoIo
mia time, with central meridian go de
grees west of Greenwich, are indicated bl
purple lines; those governed by eastern
time, with central meridian rs degrees
west of Greenwich, by red lines; thos,
governed by central time, with centra
meridian 80 degrees west of Greenwich,
by blue lines; those governed by noun
tain tine, by central meridian 10t
degrees west of Greenwich. by greer
lines, and those governed by Pacific time
with central meridian 100 degrees west
of Greenwich, by red lines.
1t has been predicted that the change
of time, until railroad men become famil
lar with the new standard, will more thar
likely result in numerous accidents, bul
such predictions are foolish. Engineers
and traInmen win all set their watche: