New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-11
THE ENTY-FOUR-UOTR DAy
ADVANTAGES THAT WOULD RESULT FROM IT'S
MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE

PRESENT SYSTEM
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Common sense principles ~ nronerl,. an nor
sistently kept before the public mind are SIRE AZ
length TO prevail. This induces me TO present again
to the intelligent readers OF The Tribune the subject
Of adopting the simple twenty four hour day in
place Of the present doubled up twice twoIve-hour
day.
Custom and does make the inconyonjent Ga
familiar as TO appear to be convenient THIS FAC;
confronts progress always and in every direction
YET progress goes on to the advancement OF cviza-
ton. Had not custom established the present double
geafei method of numbering the hours and were
we now called upon to institute set of numbers SO
tnat each hour might be designated. no one surely
would ever think Of the present method as possible
certainly not as practicable. The straightforward
numbering Of the hours up to twenty -four is simple
ard not mstdkable in significance On the CON
traTy, the present system is complicated cumber-
some and at the same time easily mstakable In sig
nihcance-!nGeed. the twelve o'clock hours cannot
be designated even by the cumbersom append
ages OF a. m and p. m. but require stu another
adjunct. such midday, midnight. or some equva-
lent to show which is meant: and this extra adj
Junct, unsettled by usage any may improvise
al discretion.
1t is worthy Of notice that the appcndages 4. IN.
and p. IN. have no significance Of the least impor-
tance In everyday life. except jas to designate tne
one series of twelve numbers fiom the other; ana
designating power over Whatever This mthis cabal
lstlc ncthng-we are absolutely obliged to write. 10
print and to telegraph millions upon millions OF
Again the Inconvenience of computing hours
Is worthy of notice. Now that So much contest Is
wagng over the number Of hours that should max
nvtsd Nv bc e n,n@ - S Sl & has reourc
then. too. in these times Of fast trains constant
comput atoms OF hours are made TO know ne time
4 MIDDAY. business
on. these computations which cross the break anG
with the fragment of the other series are innumer-
able and ar con staI ny occasi9nns msta i
New-Yo:k at $50 j. m: and reaches Buffalo at %
p m, TO one not qnGk at nsureS IL Is ra, nte 5,
hours and fifteen minutes. In contrast, the time OF
to fall in one series is compleI without th9 lea
complication 1t leaves Buffalo at o'clock ana
nine hours ami ffteen minutes seen ~ a g.aAce.
without. we may almost say poss.p rnl Qi L. ~
computation of hours in his daily routine VIII reil-
lily see that sins" serfs up to nTni COM
plicatons. ana thereby many troublesome inlst"he5'
Again. timetables now must have ineM coz
colnmns as FOR extended railroads II IS often am
cult not TO say Impossible to know 10 which series
sp5ndence in the columns one may be easily ms
processes to know about Timetable ms.eH %
the timetable FOR trains from Rutland To- inriH,s-
ton on the Central Vermont Railroad. Two traihs
were scheduled TO leave Rutland. each a Jew minutes
after . o'clock. the a. ana IN" other j. IN
The number Of minutes after , for IN" a. m Uilh
was about five more than that Tor IN" - ID, ii.t'.
He Was take the p IN train. but hhp taken W.
a. m time The hotel proprietor. however, a Gus
toned 10 mistakes occasonfG by tin corresponie rf
of times in these two columns ON the time &c..
turned attention t. il and thereby sAN'i W'S-lIt
of the train. Many other Illustrations zen nol'
striking than those above given ms 10 NN "l"dih''
OF designation ana to tendency 70 In-'hk'e' Va
readily occur one who's" bGSlh'-H !''l'4.'
much computation and designation o. hours.
But in considering reform measures We snuHl
look not only 10 the objections found IN the Ola hh'
also TO those which may hereafter be iodha III ln'
new. The objections against the new, N we -
before MS as a rule are so trivial a. almost 10 re-
discussion one. however. deserves notice Ihe re-
form contemplated would require the dals ~ ~
ordinary tlmepioces be changed But TINS 0bsacle
II viii be eeen when examined, can he etslN oN'
come All cheap tmepeces could b. iurn!Sh"d win
an inner circle Of the additional number. at an 'N-
pense not worth mentOning and valuable tnleIeCer
could be changed AT trinng expersc-so am 'o!d ny
a Matchmaking supplying a nc" dlal ana ny
eubstfutng a SINCE wheel IN place or the on"
nov regulating the movement of the hour hhni II
sho,ld he observed that all eidcrea! clocks now have
therefore be counted very serious.
This reform To be wcll-nigh void or ohlec-
lions The great difficulty in the way T. 20 ma
mower capabc OF instituiing II. The ralroatis can
DO II And by doing thev would not only Simplify
the workings Of their time schedulee but "ohd
be henefacors N the public. as they were IN ADOPT
Inc The longitude standards Of time for the country
nn Xoyember is 1888 CHARLES +. DOWD.
Saratoga Springs. y. Y. Dec q. 1885.