Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-09-26

standard Time Criticised,
When the present system Of standard
time was adopted, II was Thought both by
its advocates and 10y many eminent
scientific men. to hr "a, nearly perfect "a
system rs could De devised The theory
seemed to be one which would not break
down when put into practice. aud the
adoption Of the system was generally hail
cd ~ likely to work a revolution in the
regulation of time relations between the
different sections Of the country The
system has been in use by the railroad
companies. aud 10y almost all towns and
cities Oh the line, of railroad. for Il little
over year. II has been found to be of
great convenience in certain rcspccts.-
especially to travellers and to business
men. But now come the scientific men
and tell H. that our standard time is in
correct II may be very convenient, they
say. and yet it l., not the right tlmr.-;t
is not natural time and, in a certain sri,c
it is not scientific time
The first fault which i, found with
our present standard time is that it
does not coincide with the meteorological
time used 10y the signal service bureau. It
was understood. at the time when the pres
ent system was adopted, that the standard
time would be adopted at the various sig
nal service stations throughout the couu-
try. This. it may readily be seem would
be very necessary to prevent confusion in
utilizing the results of the signal service
bureau But the latter never has conform
ed to the railroad standard time. and met
geological observations are still made. re
corded and published according to the local
or melidional standard. Whether th. is
cause for critiCizing standard time or the
signal service bureau, depends upon the
-aSuns which may he advanced by the
latter for adhcring to the mcridional
standard.
"h- current number of the RuiiWdu
i - in a communication published in its
columns, virtually admits the illegality
of railroad standard time. The CORES
pondrnt ut this journal instances
by way of illustration, he time
named by the state for opening and
closing the polls. "What does a State
law mean. he asks. "whcn it names the
time Tor opening and closing the polls
In the 3bscncc of explanatory legislation
it may be assumed to refer to actual or
h.. H., ,,,,.it,,,,..,.. '''''
',,,,.I,,i I,!'t Wv va, "a
,nt,nI TINA rhn I,,,. '''I' W
Il. nunnoI -, .;,,l,t ''.ai,aIF fo,', ,i'ii
IN, ,'', ''''' I'i''iI
,,,,,,,,,II ,,,,'I ,I,,,,, .'l r. ii ~
il, oti,or ,,,,I.. ,I,,,,. ,,.,'.,''I ',''i'
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,ro ma, tbo ,.,,.. c.,.. It,,.,,.,, ,.,n ,i
n,cr,nk ~ iI,a'saI. ,'.',, ,''.'. ".'-
,.,,,o,..' ,,.h, ,,,,,,,i ~, '''' ga
r,,, w. WV WV
,l,.,-,lI. Kali ,, no '"'''' Il
t,.. ,t',.,,;,,'I ,.'i " ''',' " p ~
'" w - so W '"' p'N'''-' "I''h 'HeN
were entitled I" exercise
This l. certainly a question of consider
able pert urncp. fn, thr,,. IL. ,,n l.,-.l ro,n-
rul.i,r ,,l,icl ,.,., r..,,I.t +I ,.+
H.. ' 81" '"",'
i'l I'IH'"l'C'' " ''"H'H b'uIiN ana all
points between that cliE and IN western
boundary of its time section aLrec to Use
the central standard Iyhn shall .ov thor
,l,. ,,,,.,, 1i,,,. ,,I...,.,,,.
- '''''' ""' ''"N' "''
'"t I'-Ii' "N'I'h 1" i''id >IaIluaiu
ordoeS this criticism uf railroad stan
ard time lack the voucher of hirh scicntiti-
:, ,utI.,ritr M - ,.,il
N"''"@ ""'l'I4'! Ia American
astronomy, says, in report made
in his official capacity as director Of the
National Observatory to tie minister of
,lIil i.,.,,,..:- r,
P''''Io Ii'H'i''' 40" '"' '"e Nr-th'lle 'oh-
1ederatIon' II pom the Hilicatlon Of
LonSitudeS and UNIVERSAL Time,' that
the system Of standard time recomn,end-
od and :, son,, avon, ol,,,..d j., ~.
w. NV ~ ,,, III ,'"'t''", III 'Hi'
country Is lIJu"Eed ana h1SchieN"ns
and he declares II To be an obstacle to the
practical application of the principle.