New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-10-08
NATIONAL C4PITAL TOPICS.
THE PRIME MERIDIAN CONGRESS.
rnrNcH DIGESTION TO \ MtElnIAN Thai ! MI
"vFr-TR II"

"NFUrRtI"
W,sHrxcTo>. Der. From interviews had
to-da. with delegates to the International Prime
Meridian Conference IL is believed that the conference
wiHfdl t. arrive az any asreemcnt with REGARD l."
common prime meridian. The opposition Of the French
,,,,. to file, adoption OF am English meridian Is still
firm. although that opposition scems obe the result ~
pfriotic and sentimental rather than practical con-
-iderotions Further Information obtained to-day Win
REGARD to thc long debate IA Yesterday session shows
thai althourh the French delegate are wn- q" waive
their preference fora prime meridian running slr"u-h
their own country thev not willing 10 recommend
meridian which would The territories Of any other
,1..ot mower They insisted upon common
prjrue meridian which should be absolutely
neutral: that is which should be wholly
outside the limits ~ Europe aud America.
Commander Sampson. Of the United states NaFa v
,rvafory IN replying to the French de'stirs' p"hrd
ouf that prime meridian ln Orirr o." h' a't"i.i', u
crmiucd and fixed. should run ihronsh some
muucaton ST. ifh the rest OF the worm. !. WI, r5n,
convenient ANA difficult q" IS ahl'n pr'i'' ,,staJ
ID, me French delegates. hrc"l'e ln'r' .', m i ,,
iu either place Tor th' necessary Dl,.' .'ir,i
Furthermore. economy a+ well - cnAfch'n'' iu''
that of greenwich M"re .I.ln q" P' 'ti,n ~ rh,r
.,fpua- This meridian 10 ii' '"'.'l 'I "' M
longitude aud tnc cost of the necessary cnah-r7 ih ~
.tiu. charts II auy other prime ncrldau were "oP'''
"Tt ,,,., One Of TIE delegates from Great
Brt,n said thaf the question under discussion "a0
practical moi O. -entmcu' 1i one ana me rIn',' d. &
lot ,lht oi chat fact. The question Wa .,mP5 VIM.
meridian would bc most convenient Tor INC -iea''''
Professor Ianssen i'm reply 20 hi, critics maintained
that the question wa, one Of sr"erhPhy -" n.' & Ill.,
and t.i the ,-tahlI. hnrut ~ an observatory on '"'
prime meridian Wa NOT nee 'et~trN. 49, 1911
Pr,,s-.or Ncvcomb superintendent ~ the United
-t4f.- Nautical Almanac office. WHO was p'r-'h ' u
,iftiu wns then introduced to the CONFERENCE ' TICS
il.uf Raiders a- "thc most eminent oi American q
r.nnn.r" re gave his views upon th' suil't ni'uN
10 hc did not regard an observatory on IN" pr t
meridian las absolutely essential, ana 10 tnlH
extent ne coucnrrcd VITA Professor Jansen ~
however tho meridian of Bchring strait or the Morr@
should be- CHOSEN % would Doe necessary to mount u'
sit instrument Their, II point be- -ecct" where lh''
H. un observatory. the dis tnCe flum that pom =" SUN
ob.or,,tor, must hc calculated lie called the al.ul.nn
M the French delegates the fact that even the Af"
nra NOT strictly -prah neutral Ernihd anu Ih,N w.,
Iona, m Portugal and would hr hard to ma or o''r
meridian which would territory belonging I"
some one of thc great powers 81, e,.,.. nj
When after some further debate, the conference ~
inlru,d There was evidence o any disposition y" ~
mart of the French delegates to reced' u'W th'i t-
i ~, ,p,k any further CONCESSIONS since one of thcih
said cnphatcay United sta e.. NaNa o.'F w ~,
That France would never consent to onFfhNo on "''
charts Longitude west Tor east from GrcehWi'h'