The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-02-04
COSTS A MILLION A YEAR
What the Government PAYS
to Get Correct lime


There are many clocks at the nava
observatory, but those that are con
neeted with the chronog1aph d part
nent are OF NEST interest. Trey EN-
brace the electric feature in the time
system; some having to do with mean
lime, but the most important one with
astronomy. This time-plece is called
the sidersal (star) clock, and is usel
IN connection with the transit circ e.
It is connected with a chron3graph
in the same room, and with tie gall
vanic system IN the obse vatoy by
means OF a platinum rod and a small
slobule of me curry. The latter is
arranged or a metallic support th8t
at each oscillation Of the pen ulsm
the platinum touches the mercury
when the pendulum is at the midde
# its arc, closes the circuit. and t ans-
nits its fractional time message, to te
recorded by an automatic marker on
the tablesheet on the chronograp1
Thus a continuous marking g es on,
unless Interrupted; and this inte rup-
ton plays its important part in getting
orrect time.
Contrary to public idea. getting e1-
act time does not depend upan sen
observation. One rotation Of the ca IT,
according to opinions Of aetentiec
time-guagers, does not maize a en
plete day; hut the time between the
appearance ut meridian of a nxed star
and It's temperance in the same re
sition gives the exact diurnai period
The observer. through the transit te'a-
scope-across the smaller end Cnsi3a)
Of which are stretched a number Of
spiderweb threads-marks the star Fl.
most at meridian, and as It comes to
he meridian line. outlined by the
threads, he presses an electric bar
ton. or lever, and thus causes tire re
oording pen of the chronogrph abav
mentioned, to leave its z'g-zag course
around the revolving sheet and make
a short line, which represents meri
liam star time.
Now the sidereal clock reco d is
compared with absolutely correct star
time tables, which show what tn
proper record should be; and then the
difference, if there is any betwee
lock and table is corrected and tie
esult is perfected by reference TO the
mean time chranographic REQ d.. At 2
curing out all differences, time s
n condition" to be electrically. record
d whe ever there is a clock connect
"a with the wires Of the Westeer
Union Telegraph company. 70 thi
company time is money"-and monev
all the time. And not a cent is paid
% Uncle Sam for his time-the tim
it takes him to make frst-class time
and also nothing for wear and tea
Of instruments.
The telegraph company makes about
one million dollars per car out e.
his time business, in which it IS wit.
out a rival-although the goveramen
will give to any one who can utili e
the privilege the service rendered TIE
Western Union company. But thai
company now gives all necessary ser
vice desired. keeping about 40 % O
clocks correct, charging for so doing
SIS per year for each clock. The
are set at noon each day by an AUTO
matte arrangement in each electric
equipment, which responds to the he
OF the sidereal clock in the naval OBJ
servatory when its hands point tc
twelve and let's the time current 60.
A few minutes before this hour bust
ness over the Western Union wires
is suspended, and operators through
u the country put their instrument
in shape to form an unbroken circu
from the observatory to every place
where ticks a clock to be electrically
Influenced. There is a hush over al
the great Geographic system. Then
the time bell strikes, and instantly the
time message flashes over the wires.
l. is twelve o'clock.