Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-05
STANDARD TIME.
A Correct History of 1t from its Incep-
ton to its Abortion

Time Convention IN New Ork last month.
the following repOrt on the adoption of
standard time was read by the Secretary:
The system of standard time which was
Endorsed at the meeting of this conven-
ton held in April, 1888, being now in
force, it appears fitting that some record
of its adoption should be placed upon your
minutes.
Primarily, this movement may be traced
to a paper on the subject submitted by the
American Neurological Society at meet
ing of the General Time Convention on
October 10. 1881. In this paper single
standard for the whole country was pro-
posed, and the hour theory suggested as
an alternative proposition. A suggestion
of General HaZen respecting time balls is
one that should be carried into effect. AT
the time this paper was submitted there
appeared to be little hope of any reform
being soon accomplished.
A brief reference may be made to the
earlier history of this subject. Sir John
Herschel first mentioned the general idea
in 1923; the late Prof. Benjamin Pierce
first proposed the theory of standard time
based upon the 10th and Goth, ETC., Green
witch meridians in 1873 or 1874. Pre-
viously, in 1869, Prof. c. F. Dowd had
proposed the hour difference theory based
upon Washington time; in 1870 the Rail
road Gazette urged the adoption of a uni
form standard; in January, 1874, your
Secretary suggested theory of reform as
the result of a study Of the situation as it
then presented itself: in 1875, Mr.. Sand
ford Fleming proposed the hour difference
theory for the use of the whole world; in
1881, DIR. Thomas Hill, of Portland, Me-,
formerly President of Harvard College,
proposed a similar theory. So far as |
have been able to ascertain, all of these
different persons reached their conclu-
sions and formulated their theories indie
pendontly of each other. In 1879, Prof.
Cleveland Able and Mr. E. b. Elliott made
an admirable report on the subject to the
American Neurological Society Gin
which report they alluded to a previous
report made in 1870, and followed this in
1881 by submitting to the General Time
Convention the paper before referred to-
The subject was also discussed in various
papers by DR.. f. A. p. Barnard, Presi-
dent of the American Neurological So
ciety, and by members Of the American
Society of Civil Engineers, and the So
ciety for the Advancement of Science. In
1882, E. X. Knorr, G. E., issued an elabo-
rated pamphlet suggesting the joint use
of local and Greenwich time. In the
pamphlet containing the proceedings of
the American Neurological Society for
1879 the names of twenty-five persons
other than those here named are mention
ed as having published articles relatiYetO
standard time. In addition to those
named, believe almost every city in the
country has recently discovered that
within its borders dwelt ''the father of
standard time" Scientists do not gen.
orally patent their theories. Had all APP
piled for patents, it appears probable that
we should have had another car coupler
muddle.
A number of systems were proposed,
based upon this hour theory. Prot. Dowd
suggested at different times three systemSe,
based respectively upon Washington,
New Y ork City and Greenwich 10th meri-
dian time, etc., to various railroad assOci-
atiOns and by circulars, and spent much
time labOriOusly calculating the mean
time of all railway stations. Sandford
Fleming contributed many valuable pa
pers on the subject, and i'll 1882, in con-
nection with the American Society of
Civil Engineers, he forwarded circulars
to a number of railway officials and other
prominent persons, in which he proposed
a system based upon the hour difference
theory. Edwin Hill, of New Haven, in
1882, also proposed a system. Col. H. S.
Haines proposed a system for the Southern
railways in 1888. 1t may be said of these
propositions that no work of this charac-
ter is entirely lost, and full honor should
be done to their authors. With the eX-
ception of Col. Haines they proposed
to which you were expected to adapt
yourselves. The system proposed to you
in April, 1888, suggested divisions and
meridianS which were best adapted for
your operations, but which other interests
could readily adapt themselves to without
inconvenience. Whether this fact was
the reason that induced you to give the
system your practical Endorsement you
are yourselves the best judges. The
situation in the South was peculiarly diff
cult.
No session of the General Time Conven-
ton was held in April, 1882, which would
have been the first meeting after the one
in which the communication of the Ameri-
can Neurological Society was presented,
and only sixteen persons were present at
the next meeting in Cleveland, in October,
1882, when, however, the subject of stand
ard time was informally discussed. 1t
never came up for discussion in this con-
ventiOn prior to April, 1888.
The published proceedings of your last
two meetings furnish sufficient history
of the successful movement prior to and
including October Is, 1888, the resolutions
pledging yourselves to put the new stand
ards in effect on November Is, 1888, hav-
ing been then adopted. One week before
the General Time Convention had adopted
the same resolution.
Previous to this the Central Vermont;
the COncOrd Northern { N. H.: Boston,
Concord and Montreal; Passumpsic, and
Southeastern Railroads had adopted the
time of the 10Th meridian, and commenced
to run their rains by that time on Oct. 7,
1888, the Ogdensburg and Lake Cham
plain Railroad following on October 10.
The desirability of having the time of
New York city, as the most important
city on the continent, conform to the new
standard did not admit of question. On
October 10, the second day after the
meeting of this convention, in company
with Mr.. James Hamblet. who has charge
of the New \ ork time service of the West
ern Union Telegraph Company, and who
was an enthusiastic advocate of standard
time, your Secretary called upon Mayor
Edison, who received the subject favor
ably. Subsequently Mayor Edison for
warded letter, written at his request,
proposing the change to the Board of AL
dermen, with a commendatory message.
At this time Prof. j. X. Rees, Secretary of
the American Neurological Society and
adjunct Professor of Astronomy at Co
lumbia College, took charge of this matter
in New York city, and to his good judy
ment, knowledge of men and wise man.
agement, the prompt adoption of the new
standard in New York city is due.
Of the 100 principal cities of the United
States named In the census of 1880, seventy
,dllu 6iSu ulOIG SUBSEQUENTLY,
followed the example of the metropolis.
Your thanks are especially due to Prof.
j. x. Rees, of New York city, as to MIR.
j. RaynOr Edmands, of Boston, (and /
cannot speak too highly of the work of
these gentlemen for the hearty, ener-
getic and successful aid which they gave
the movement.
The cooperation of scientific men gen.
orally was amarked feature of this period,
and among them | wish especially to refer
to DIR. f. A. p. Barnard, Rear Admiral
r. W. Shufeldt, Prof. Leonard Waldo,
Prof Cleveland Able and Prof.
Pickering, whose work came within my
personal knowledge. There were doubt
less many others who may be known to
you. The hearty and very valuable sup
port given the movement by the railway
newspapers, and the press Of the country
generally, is worthy of special notice.
OF the various circulars issued on be-
half of the convention between October
IL and November Is, and of the numerous
letters, kilograms and inquiries of all
characters, for details, etc., which were
exchanged, it is unnecessary here to
speak. The situation was rendered more
difficult from the fact that in the minds of
many persons standard time was con-
founded with the twenty-fOur hour
system.
The Union division of the Union Pacific,
the Central Pacific, and the Southern Pa
cific west of Deming, have not yet adopted
standard time, but l am assured that with
the spring change of schedule the Union
Pacific will make the change, and under
stand also, that the Central and Southern