National Republican., 1884-10-02
TIE MERIDIAN CONGRESS.


hcAultS ENpeCtcu IRON lnen.
Shortly before noon yesterday the delegates
to the prime meridian conference assembled
at the department Of state, and were intro
duced to Secretary Frolinghuyscn and sccrc-
tary Gresham who ohanced TO be in tho de.
partment There were forty delegates in
number, representing Austria, Hungary, Brazil,
Colombia, Costa Rica Denmark, France, Ger.
many, Great Britain Guatemala, Japan, Mex
leo, Netherlands, Paraguay, Russia, san
Domingo San salvador, Spain, Sweden aud
Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Venezuela, aud
the United States. The largest number OF
delegates was sent by Great Britain. ipur
prominent scientists representing that country.
The delegation from the United States consists
Of Rear Admiral g. X. r. Rodgers, J.. NJ. Ruth
erford, W. r. Allen, Commander w. U. Slpp'
son, and Prof Cleveland Abbc. Among The
prominent scientists from abroad are Mr..
JANSEN from France; Mr. Hickcldcyor, from
Germany: Capt. Sir Y. q. O. Evans aud Prof.
Y. g. Adams, from Great Britain; Mt. Miles
Roch, from Guatemala; Maj. Gen. Stobnitakl,
from Russia md Prof, Hersch, from Switzer-
land.
At noon tho delegates gathered In secret
session In the diplomatic room of the depart
ment of state where the conference will be
held. Secretary Frelinghuyson welcomed
them In short speech, and nominated Count
Iewenhaupt as temporary chairman. Count
Iewenhaupt took the chair and suggested Nd
miral Rodgers, chairman of the American
delegation, as permanent chairman OF tho
convention. Admiral Rodgers was elected
and mado an address. He spoke of the object
OF the confercnce-to agree upon common
zero of longitude and standard OF time,,and OF
the famous diplomatcs and sclentists,who Ind
gathered for the purpose. He hoped tney
would throw aside oil national preferences
and work only for the common good oil man
kind. He said that the American delegation,
notwithstanding the vast extent and itnpor-
lance Of the country they represented, had no
desire To- urge that prime meridian DO iound
within its confines
"In my own profession" said he, 'that OF
seaman, tho embarrassment arising from the
many prime meridians now in use is very con.
spicuous, and in the valuable interchange OF
longitudes by passing ships ut sea, often dill
cult and hurried sometimes only possible by
figures written on black board, much conili-
sion arises, and at times grave danger In the
use ofcharts, too. this trouble is also annoying,
and TO us who live upon the sea common
meridian will be a great advantage. Within
the past two years We have been given reason
TO hope that this great desideratum may be
obtained, and within year learned confer
ence, in which many nations were represented,
passed upon II with singular unanimity and
In a very broad and catholic spirit"
After some discussion the election of vice
president was dispensed with and the election
of secretaries was postponed until to-day in
order to give the delegates an opportunity TO
consider tho number of secretaries to be
selected, and the language In which tho pro-
ceedings shall be conducted. In the discussion
yesterday the delegates favored the adoption
OF both the French and the English languages.
At o'clock an adjournment was taken until
1 o'clock to-day.
The American delegation is favorably dis
posed toward the adoption by the conference
OF the longitude of Greenwich.
The United States and Great Britain now
use her Greenwich meridian, the Spaniard
uses that of Madrid, Portugal that of Lisbon,
France OF Paris, and Russia OF ST. Petersburg