The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-19
Greenwich As tho Primo Meridian.

A resolution has been adopted by large
majority Of tho Geographical Congress at
Berne. that the Greenwich meridian ought
to be universally accepted as the prime.
This gives noteworthy sanction to tho
view taken In the Washington International
| Conference Of 1884. Although the interval
Of seven years between these two assem-
blages has seen little progress toward
carrying out tho earlier recommendation,
yet 1t is clear that II there is to be univer-
| sal first meridian for the measurement of
longitude and the division of time. tho
meridian which passes through the Royal
Observatory at Greenwich has by far the
strongest claim to selection.
The choice has always been chiefly ques-
tlon OF convenience and suitability for reck-
oning. One Of the earliest primes taken was
that OF Rhodes; then that Of tho Fortunate
Isles was assumed as they were the furthest
land accessible In that direction. The Peak
OF TenerifIe was for long time accepted as
the first meridian. A Congress OF men of
science assembled by R1cHE11EU in 1850 Sc
lected the island Of Ferro for the purpose,
and this remained In authority for long
time. although there were reckonings from
other points. such as San Miguel. one Of the
Azores. Various countries have used their
own capitals. like Paris, for example, for the
reckoning Of longitude.
For many years, however. tho supremacy
OF Greenwich has been apparent from the
fact that many nations which fix upon a
meridian within their own domains also &C.
cept the British prime. This may be seen
In the maps commonly used in the United
States. Even when they reckon longitude
from Washington by figures marked at the
top OF tho map, they give the reckoning
from Greenwich at the bottom. 1t has long
been evident that various advantages would
result from having q universal first merid-
ian. including even more safety In navlga-
ton In some conceivable instances. 1t is
further evident that. In order to bring about
this universally. national prejudices must
DO sacrificed. In such scientific matter
there is no proper room for patriotic bias.
Great Britain. as the chief maritime and
commercial power OF the world, a power
too. whose colonies In both hemispheres
constitute In some cases great and growing
empires OF themselves. naturally has tho
prior claim to tho adoption Of her prime
meridian. But when she is also supported
by country territorially and CONNER
cialy as great as the United States, and
when the Greenwich meridian Is already
adopted on the charts OF many other
countries. the argument Is overwhelming
In its favor. Other things being equal,
change OF this character should be adopted
in way that will render obsolete as few as
possible OF existing maps and charts. The
question is practically reduced to that OF the
Greenwich primo or no universal prime
since 1t would be unreasonable that the
majority should yield to the few. France.
supported by ono or two Latin countries, APP
pears to be the chief obstacle to such an
agreement The difference in time between
Greenwich and Paris Is nine minutes.
In the Meridian Conference at Washing
ton the recommendation OF the Greenwich
prime was very decided the delegates from
France and ono or two other countries de-
c!nlng TO concur; and on that occasion also
IL universal day was recommended. Alter
ward for railroad purposes in this country
came the regulation OF clocks and time
tables by tho four standard meridans, the
75th 9Oth 105th, and l20th west OF Green
wich, making four divisions EASTERN CEN
trial, mountain, and Pacific. which, OF course,
AT - degrees for the hour would bring the
first of these meridians five hours later than
Greenwich, aud hence the division de-
pending on it; and the others were re-
| spectiye'y one hour later than the meridian
and division next easterly. Mr.. FLOWER
even introduced into Congress bill to legal
ize the adoption OF standard time through
| out tho United States. in accordance with
the hour meridian system, and to accept
! the neridnns which form multiple OF Is
degrees from the Greenwich prime as SUBJ
standards for the LEGAL reckoning of time.
| These sub-standaris would of course be the
| four merdIHns already spoken OF. The
time sections We're to embrace the country
on each side Of the sub-standard meridians;
| but the constituted authorities OF any State,
city. town, or village could adopt such
sub-standa,i for reckoning time as should
| seem To them mot convenient, and this WAS
then TO be legal and recognized by the
courts In addition the hours of tho day in
any locality might be numbered from zero