National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-23
TIE MERIDIAN CONFERENCE.


AZ the meeting Of tho International Meridian
conference yesterday upon motion of Count
Lcwcnhaupt, of Sweden the following declar-
alton, which embraces all the resolutions pre-
yiously agreed upon by the conference, was
adopted;
The President OF the United States, in pur-
sunncc of n special provision OF congress hav-
ing extended to the governments of all nations
In diplomatic relations with his own an inyl-
tation TO send delegates to meet delegates
from the United States in the city OF Washing
ton on the LIST of october 1891, for the purpose
Of discussing and, if possible, . ing upon a
meridian proper 10 be employed as common
zero of longitude and standard of time reckon.
ing throughout the world. this International
Meridian conference did assemble nj the time
and place designated, and, after careful and
patient discussion, has passed the following
resolutions:
l. Resoiicd, That It is the opinion Of this
congress that II Is desirable TO adopt single
prime meridian for all nations, in place of the
multiplicity of initial meridians which now
exist, ....
.. Rcsoiroi, That the conference proposes to
the government here represented the adoption
Oft meridian passing through tho center oI
the transit instrument at the observatory Of
Greenwich us the initial meridian Tor longi-
tude
3. Rsso'rcd, That from this meridian longi.
tude shall nc counted in two directions up to
$50 degrees, east longitude being plus and
west longitude minus.
4. RcsJirad, That the conference proposes
the adoption Of a universal day for all pur'
poses for which IL may be found convenient,
aud which shall not interfere with the use ol
local or other standard time where desirable.
). RCsO'ryd, That this universal day is TO pc
u mean solar day; is to begin for all the world
at the moment OF mean midnight of the initial
meridian, coinciding with the beginning OF the
civil day and date of tina, meridian, and Is Ia
bc counted from zero up to twenty-iour hours
9, ResO'tvd, That the conference expresses
d ls.W hat
the astronomical and nautical days will be ar
| ranged everywhere to begin at mean m ldnlght
T. Resolved That the conference expresse,
| the hope that the technical studies designed
/ to regulate and extend the application OF the
/ decimal system 10 the division Of angulnrsp
/ and of time shall be resumed, 50 a. TO permit
the extension Of this application TO ali cases IL
| which II presents real advantage
! RcsO'rcd, fRdRH That copy of the resolu
! tlons passed by this conference shall be com
Z munCatcd to the government of the United
/ States, at whose instance aud within whose
| territory the conference has been convened.
| On motion Of VI. de Struvo, of Russia, res
! olution was adopted expressing the thanks o
| the conference TO the president, Admira
! Rodgers, aud also their appreciation OF hi
able and impartial performance OF the delicau
and laborious duties which had devolvet
/ upon him.
In reply to this resolution, Admiral Rodger
said:
GENrLEMEN: am greatly honored by tn,
me as the president of this conference, and
thank you very heartily for ii. The duty as
| signed to us has not been free from dificulty
but our meetings and discussions have beef
characterized by great courtesy and ktndnes
and by conciliatory spirit.
With patience and devotion the delegates Z
this congress have sought TO discharge tn
trust committed to them, aud, as your chaii
man, beg you to receive my most cordia
thanks for the courteous consideration hay
received at your hands.
The President OF the United states and th
secretary of state desire me to renew TO yo
their thanks for your presence here and thei
best wishes for your safe and happy retur
each to his own home.
shall esteem myself very happy hereaitc
whenever shall have the good fortune
meet any of my colleagues Of the lnternt
tional Meridian conference.
A resolution of thanks was extended to tn
secretaries for the able manner In which the
had discharged their arduous duties.
The conference then adjourned to me,
again upon the call of the President for tt
purpose of verifying the protocols This NEE
ing, which Will probably be the final on
will be held about the middle of next week.