New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-09
THE PRIME MERIDIAN.
THAT OF GREENWICH PREFERRED TO ANY
OTHER.


THAT OF GREENWICH PREFERRED TO ANY
OTHER.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir In article published in The Tribune Of
February l the question Of the adoption of prime
meridian and universal standard OF time is treated
still open. Permit to call your attention to the
fact that on December l. 1888 an invitation was ex-
tended by the President Of the United States to the
Governments Of the nations Of the world to be repre-
sented at an International Meridian Conference at
Washington on October l, 1884 for the purpose of
fixing upon meridian proper TO be employed as
Of longitude and standard Of time reckon
ing throughout the globe. This invitation was
cepted by the Governments OF twenty-five nations.
The conference assembled the date fixed the dele
gates of twenty five nations. including the United Stltes
being represented. Denmark accepted. but not
represented and took part In the conference. At
the session of October H. 1884 the following resou-
ton adopted: "That the conference proposes 10
the Governments here represented the adoption Of the
meridian passing through the transit instrument at the
Observatory of Greenwich the initial meridian for
longitude" This resolution received the affirmative
vote Of the delegates Of the following named nations
Austria Hungary, Chill, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ger
many, Great Britain. Guatemala. Hawaii Italy. Japan.
Liberia, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay Russia. Sal
vador, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland Turkey, United
States and Venezuela. The only negative vote
that Of San Doming0-Brazl and France not voting.
This resolution did not originate with the delegates
from Great Britain. 1t introduced by L. VI.
Rutherford of this city, and was unanimously sup
ported by the American delegates. Should another
international conference be held it is the least
probable that any meridian other than Greenwich
would receive the support Of the majority Of the ma
tons assembled. On November IS. 1888, the large
majority of the people Of the United States changed
their watches and clocks to conform to the standard
time of merdians located respectively five, six,
nd aiC hour from nTriPh TO-daV AL
railway time and nearly all local time in the United
States and Canada is governed by one or the other
Of these standards. The meridans selected chosen
in preference to those bearing the same relation TO
our national meridian, passing through Washington.
D. c.. because they very much better adapted for
practical nse Uniformity in timekeeping now exists
where perplexing diversity formerly prevailed, and
proposition to return TO the old system would not be
given serious consideration by any considerable por
ton Of the people of this country. Since its estab
shment in the United States the principle of govern
ing time by reference to the merdlans distant even
number of hours from Greenwich has gained many
adherents It's adoption in Austria-Hungary, Ger
many, Belgium and France is being strongly urged
Japan has adopted it sweden had previously adopted
it, and Greenwich time has been used in all parts of
Great Britain for more than forty years.
In the article referred is proposed to adopt the
Jerusalem meridian the governing meridian for time
reckoning. This meridian very nearly comedies with
the thirty fifth meridian east of Greenwich its exact
location being 50 degrees 10 minutes east longitude
The hour merdians in this country corresponding to
the Jerusalem merdians, approximately the 10th,
s5th, IO0th and 115th merdians of longitude west
from Greenwich None of these is well adapted
for use in mekeepng. The difficulty which long
stood in the way Of the adoption Of the hour meridian
system in this country that Of determining the
points at which the change could be made from one
hour standard TO the next. To do this, with the
system based upon Washington time, was attempted
and pronounced TO be impractcable With the
system based upon Greenwich time, it has been
complished. Every argument against the use Of the
Washington meridian is tenfod stronger against the
Jerusalem meridian, and any attempt to base time
keeping upon that meridian in this country is abso
lutely hopeless OF SUCCESS
One of the arguments presented in favor of the
Jerusalem lin preference to the Greenwich meridian
in the article referred is that of it lies upon
land So far from considering it essential that the
prime meridian should extend land even the
opponents Of the adoption of the Greenwich meridian
argued exactly the Mr.. JANSEN the distin
guished French Savant and one OF the delegates from
that country, said The advantage OF drawing the prime
meridian through the ocean had always been under
stood, and 1t was precisely for TINS reason that
Marinus of Tyre during the first century placed il
at the Fortunate Isles of the African Continent
If, however, II is highly desirable that the prime
meridian should lie Oh land as far as possible, why
not select the meridian OF Parnassus ana connect
the ancient chronology Of Greece with that OF modern
times II would extend over land almost entirely
from the 45th Of south latitude Africa the 10th
degree of north latitude in Norway lilo degrees nearly
near tie lands of the Batwi-the Herodotus
and stanley and thus afford unmeasured delight 10 an
ancient and honorable people, possibly the sole survv
Ing types of the progenors OF the human 1t would
cross the equator little south Of the Congo at polnt
which either is now or may easily be included in
the great Congo Free State ground already actually
made neutral by international agreement ana
for the establishment OF an international
observatory If neutrality be essential Besides this,
ii would be at all points as inconvenient. as objection
able and as impractcable for the OF the civilized
people of the world the meridian Of Jerusalem OF
Rome or Of Washington and therefore on a par with
them all At the risk Of being accused Of the crime
OF speaking "dsrespecfully Of the equator II may
he asked what advantage is there in having the primo
meridian cross the equator on land
article referred to speaks OF remakng the charts
i'm case the meridian Of Jerusalem adopted, II
that were a light affair France alone possessed over
900 charts OF which about 600 are IN use, and yet
France but 10 per cent of the ships ahoat SIX
years ago the total number i charts annually printed
Tor the daily Of vessels in the British navy and
for sale the general public had for some years ranged
between 100, 900 ana 100000 annually AID this mum
her Is probably much larger 20 day Besdes ths $40
charts requiring $50 copper plates were published by
and sold. These charts, and others based upon the
Greenwich meridian, The attire navigabl globe
used 10y nearly IS per cent Of the whole Heating
them would be very great may De easily seen when II
i stated that Si000000O is the estimated cost OF the
mates from which the charts are printed.
II everything said in favor of the Jerusalem meridian
is admitted, the fact still remains that Its adoption by
international agreement is unaiainable IL Is not 10
be desired practicable grounds and there Is no force
In its suggestion on religious chronological grounds
The year Of the birth Of the Saviour IS not precisely
known. The precise year. month, DAY ana hour woull
have to be ascertained and the Christian Era dated
therefrom in order that the universal day and the
chronological day should exactly coincide
NewYork, Feb ., 1891. W. r. ALLEN'
TOWNSHIPS CAN DO THE RoADMAKINe.