The Worthington advance., 1898-06-09
MARINE CHRONOMETERS.
Are Thoroughly Tested at the Naval
Observatory Before Be-
ing Used.

Where a United States naval ship is to
be seen in commission, at home or
abroad, she carries minute instru-
ment, in comparison to her guns, her
most essential prerequisite of safety.
Whether on a smooth sea, in a storm,
or in battle, the unerrjng device keeps
sleepless vigilance over the position
of the vessel. The marine enron ometer,
the production of many ingenious men,
an instrument of peculiar construction
and great workmanship, by which time
is measured with extreme accuracy in
determining geographical longitudes,
is said to be the most valuable gift that
astronomical science has given to man
kind in the progress of navigation and
. the increased security of life and prop
erty.
One of the most essential and prac.
tical features of the United States naval
observatory is to keep in hand, for the
use of the navy, thoroughly tested
chronometers, a work which requires
much care and attention six months in
the year. A temperature room is con.
nected with the chronometer and time
service department. of the observatory.
in which the testings are made, under
the influence of hygrometric condition
of the atmosphere. Comparisons are
made daily between II and 11:40 o'clock
a. M, with the meantime standard
clock, and the errors and rates are
worked up once week. From these
mean rates calculations are made to the
nearest quarter of second. The tenn.
perature is closely observed each day
and recorded for the previous "a hours,
by chronometric thermometer, and
by yself-registering maximum and mini.
mum thermometers.
The room is heated by circulation OF
hot water, the fuel being gas, controlled
by electricity, and is cooled by an ice
refrigerator when a temperature is re.
quired below that of the outside at
mosphere. For the six colder months
of the year the temperature room is
kept within range of two degrees, and
often for 48 hours within one degree.
Chronometers received are placed on
trial for six months before purchased
by the government, and are tested at
three temperatures between As and 80
degrees Fahrenheit. Fifty-fve, 70 and
IS degrees are good temperatures to use,
as between these extremes are included
all degrees of heat and cold chronom-
eters will pass in ordinary navigation.
Chronometers are suspended in gimbals
On the ship, so that whatever angle the
deck of the vessel may form with the
horizon the chronometer will always
maintain the same position.
Chronometers for service are selected
with view to the climate in which they
are to be used. Those for tropical nav
igation should have their point of COM
putation highest, and those for cold
climates the reverse. When called for
they are transported direct from the
observatory, through the equipment of
the navy department, to their destina-
ton, WAile still running, with the great
est care. The marine chronometer diff
fers from the ordinary watch in the
mechanism of it's escapement, which is
so constructed that the balance is en-
tirely free from the wheels during the
greater part of it's vibration, and also
in being fitted with compensation ad-
justment to prevent the expansion and
contraction of the metal by action of
heat and cold. They are delicate and
costly instruments. Yetevery ship that
sails a United. States naval ,pennant
must carry from one to five chronome-
ters for the purpose of checking one an
other and to guard against the effects
ofaccid arrangement in any singl
one. They cost from $375 to $3.50 apiece.
Since the war preparations have been in
progress there has been the greatest
run on the observatory for them since
the late ewar.-Washington Post.