New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-01
ADVOCATING A UNIVERSAL DATE LINE.
4 CORRESPONDENT WHO WOULD HAVE DAYS As
WELL AS HOURS UNIFORM THE
WORLD AROUND.

4 CORRESPoN DENT WHO WOULD HAVE DAYS A
WELL AS HOURS UNIFORM THE
WORLD AROUND.
TO che Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: We notice in The Tribune Of February an
article relating to conference OF representatives from
the Governments Of twenty three different nations
OF the world. convened at Washington on october Q.
1884 for the purpose Of establishing the location RI
universal primo meridian, from which to regulate
| standard time Tor travelling time) and 10 reckon
longitude. This gives opportunity to offer suggestions
In regard TO establishing the location CT another geo.
graphical line viz, the universal date line. at which
each date and calendar day first begins Its round
upon the earth.
Cur system of giving a new date and name to each
calendar day at each respective locality at tho mo.
ment Of the arrival Of midnight and which name and
date abide during the period OF twenty -four hours
involves the necessity OF a datene for beginning
place for each day on tho eartl
Midnight always corresponds with meridian ana
is apparently continually travelling, pursuing and
tngishinG the day at it's front tcalI IT Sunday. and
is followed by new and expanding day fondayl,
III It reaches the dacine, where this extremity Of
Monday remains.
Midnight there finds Monday also at its 'front.' which
now becomes tho retiring day for another twentyfouf
hours. and Tuesday, Icing introduced, becomes the
expanding day from the date line to the rear Of mid
night.
This date-llnc has long since been recognized By
mariners crossing the Pacific and after crossing the
date they are compelled 10 change their calendar
reckoning before or on reaching the shore. We have
not learned that the date-lne has conventlonally
authorized location, except by common consent o.
mariners The location may yet be only approx.
matey determined have noticed two or three ske'cnes
OF IT, one location, marked on a Timetable map issuc9
by tho New York, Lake Erie and Western kainonas
dated March f. 1855 gave its location as passing sou,c
through Behrng straits about 40 degrees west cne'
tude thence curyins westward of t. coast OF ASIA,
eaS. of Japan and the China TO l2o degrees casa
longitude and norih latitude about 20 degree. ulenee
south 10 near the Equator. thence east to aooht i,o
cast longitude: then curying south and east,
ing 70 west longitude at 10 degrees south lauude,
thence soutl indefinitely. IL has been ss'd 10 pass
over Chatham Island in the south PACING =.
The eastern and Tcsern shores 81 the Paelnc nnst
Inevitably bear different dates, and tnc isiaius Huss
also lay.. two classes OF dates. a..
This date line therefore, must at present nnd io
Iocation from the extreme north TO the extreme
south between these islands. bearing different dacss
leaving n uniformity of date Oh either she. -
SOME seventy degrees creates three separate calendar
DAYS simult ancousy during the period Required Tor
midnight 10 traverse the Longitude thus covered oy
should National convention ever determine this
date lsc on a meridian. and regulate the dates upon
,he islands 70 correspond, and constitute IL uni.
yer,al prime meridian TO reckon Longitude from, ~
directloa only In which the day passes, up 70 300
degrees lzero,. dispensing with east longitude ana
vest longitude. Our tmekeepsrs should also be
numbered IN 10 twenty four, dispensing with a. M
and D. H. thus simplifying timetables.
IIawley, Penn, Feb. IL. 1901. T. V. TAFT.