New-York tribune., 1884-10-02
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
TIE PRIME MERIDIAN CONGRESS.


urpu.o og THE DHLTdATFs-R An-ADMiitAL
uopGEns CHAIHMAS ~ TnE CoNTt HPNcH.
WhsuIsGToN, Oct. 1.-ShortlY before noon
to-day the gates 10 the Prime Meridian CONFERENCE
assembled at the Department of state, ana were miro
duccd to Secretary FelDghuyrcn aud secretary Gresham
There were forty delegates present, representing Aus
tria. Hungary Brazil Colombia. Costa I!ica Denmark
France Germany, Great Britain, Guatenhla, Hh"hi
u,l, Japon Mexico the Netherlands. Paraguay, Rus
sin San Domingo san Salvador, spain, Sweden ana Nor
wav Switzerland, Turkey, Venezuela ana the uhl'"
States The largest number of delegates. four was sent
by Great Britain The delegation from the United states
consists Of Rear Admiral c. l.. T. RODGERS H. NJ Ruthci
ford W f. Allcn Commander W. T. Sampson ana Irot
f.sor Cleveland Able. Among The prominent delegates
from abroad are Mr.. Yanssen, Of France; Mr. iiicke
down Of Germany; Captain Sir T. G. o. Evans
and Professor Y. C. Adams, of Great Bn
tain; Mr. Miles Roch, Of Guatemala; Major
General cbnitzki, OF Russia, and Professor hllSch
of switzerland At 10 the delegates gathered in secret
session in the Diplomatic Room, and Secretary frclinS
hmyscn said
GExrLEAES 1t gives pleasure; in the name oi inc
President the United states. TO welcome You 10 hiS
congress where OF the nations OF the cart are rep
resented You have met to discuss ana CONSIDER lle III
portan question Of prime mcrian ., LIf m 90 , r' r
tory Labor, Of other scientific associations anH STGl
coIgrcs ics and thus make these labos ayaiapi Hi
ing Won all success in yonr important dcbcIalionS ana
not doubting that you VIII reach conclusion rl''Sar &
torv 70 The civilized world, ]. before leaving yGi
take the liberty to nominate. for the
uurposc of n temporary organization, Count Lcwrn
hanrf II will afford this Department pleasure TO do al
in it, power promote the convenience OF the congress
and To facilitate its proceedings
cout Lewenhaup on taking the chair. suggested that
Admiral Rodgers chairman of the American dci'gaoh
bc made permanent chairman of the conference. Inc
sugcson was favorably received, and on assuming the
| chair Admiral Rodgers said:
GENTIEMES: beg You to receive my thamkS lor 'h'
hich honor have conferred upon me III callhg ne "
the chairman of the delegation from the ulc S%Itlt %
10 side this CONGRESS 70 II nave c"no from "iy
diinuact and science seeking 10 create new accord
among the nations 10y agreeing upon ue'lin
standard of time reckoning throughout thc Woib, lal
Nv shall he if. throwing aside national preference
| and iurlnntintS we seek only IN" common -o"l
of mankind and gain for science ana Tor commerce
prime meridian acceptable To- ali couIlr '. - l'" %
with th. least possible Inconvenience. idNh ll, "S''
nf heart the Government OF the United rtlt'- mas N'
i , l win which If has diplomatic relations To send
d,ritcs to con..rc.s tp assemble at Washington to-
day tn discus. the question have Indicated me nv
aton hl- grciou,y received. ad "r are mere ms
morning H. enter upon the agreeable duty assigned ID Ms
by our .pcctiVc Governments. r"ab ~ J. me area 81
tmic r,t.ntline from $50 - west from Greenwich 10
| IGG5 10 at onr cxu'mc limit ln AA-"a' h3t
! i. by railway and telegraph line, ana d"ltri
with ob-cr1aofcs; lon- 10, d. g'ol', oi n'Ilr
i2.oon miles va-t as must p I~ i".'-n i''u i
cnutnrrtr 4 delegation To- mis- congress has no drc'r
to urge that limc mcr'. ,i,' ~, ,'.'t ., t
c'nhl .r.i--incnt arising FROM o." n3I, il. l.ii ii
onaulr III longitude. 0f i''lnt 1hr "' ,,' W ' ~ ,
! cult and hurli. 4. some RAM" "uP l"--l"' "f
tiu,- . tyr danger H. the uc ut hit~ i- tf"lh' j.
,l. gfun.iuc aud fu VINO Use upon ihr -"l, t n
mon tri.ur meridian will boo gl dt advantage. NlhH
Inc t,,.f t,o wears have been given uf'"h 10 H""
thni Ii- great -lctuin ul he opiiucd. nnd Nliuh
"A ..,ta "a harmed cuu Irl,nrc iu Uhrh ulut u'.~ " l'
rrpfo.ruol p.--.d ufonlt wIh singular u1hInll'' am"
| la 90 ttr' broad and catholic spirit
No. mot frt.-ia. further if Nour attcu rN'' Of
tn Ia. before won fhD sunrrf $50 Hf' titt" i' U''-'
the choice of q meridian to hr fWppi"i "t common
| l.tn nf Longitude nnd stiulid col time irrk"nhe
| lhtnurinut thr uorld" and -ll hrf Nnn i't"rp'ir o.
ON organization Boy the erection ut tl'. r W nt "ll
| tI Nf All
| our o,trdiuL-
An,r-om ditcu. sion. tho election of fir' pr '"nt
vu. MI. .r.od with an1 hc election Of -o'riuirt was
| postponed until tomoroN. The pot'p'u'W'n' "'f
nilr IN oidni tp ritr thr dr'niDf 900 opportunity Il"
c, , tn ninuct of .rcfrf,tI.a to 10. s,rr = ud thr
i,npnnr. IN vhlrh hr pfocordl.f .pf Doc conduct
fu Inc ,ll,cus ION tpp thr drirgirf favored i' "9i
! lion nf b,lh the it.uch and Lhgl. lnn.nI-'. " J
a., loci nn itduuruulrnf uftl,ru uuf "'''h h"
fpw Ilr American drl. luiuu D. iN"it'N .H'i" 'l
tnWntd the niopon by the conference 81 the l"nhi""r
| nTi i,tt,4u.ltu