Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-09


Secretary of the Navy. Mr.. Morton, and by
Admiral and Mrs. C. IL. Chester. Admiral
Chester is superintendent of the observa-
tory and delegate to the congress from the
Navy Department. Tie Marine Band was
in attendance and lent much to the pleasure
of the occasion through the rendition of an
attractive program. in which international
airs had prominent Part.
Flashing the Time Signal.
At the conclusion of the social features
of the evening, luncheon having followed
the reception, preparations for sending the
time signal were pushed rapidly forward.
1t was easily seen that the entire company
could not be accommodated within the COM
paratfvely narrow confines of the transmit
ting room. This is the same room from
which the daily signals are sent over the
telegraph wires at noon, giving the correct
government time all over the United States.
In order that every one might become ac
quainted with the manner in which the in
ternational signal would be sent flying on
its way little parties of the visitors were
organized and they were conducted to the
transmitting room and shown the apparatus,
apparently quite simple in design. An ex
PLANTATION was given of the procedure to be
followed when five minutes before the mid
night hour the series of signals would be-
gin. At this time the instruments were
connected with the transmitting clock and
each tick given by that instrument devel-
cult of telegraph and cable connections.
1t was so arranged that when the time for
sending the signals should begin as many
possible would be accommodated in the
transmitting room. The others in the COM
pany were gathered on the lawn, and eX
actly at the time the midnight time message
took flight there was a stroke of gong
on the exterior of the building
Secretary Morton closed the circuit which
sent the signal. The ticking of the trans
hitting clock and the clicking of the tele-
graph wires continued for five minutes be-
fore midnight. There are certain intervals
arranged in the series of ticks in order
that 1t may be known throughout the cir
cult that everything is in perfect working
order. The last tick is given when the
circuit is closed, and that particular tick
denotes the midnight moment to the frac-
ton of second.
The visitors found the observatory, with
its many intricate instruments and fine tel
escapes, a place of unusual interest, which
was heightened by the time signal arrange
ments planned in their honor.
Messages to Two Presidents
When the time signal was completed the
many messages of national and interna-
tional greeting were put on the wires. To
the President at Oyster Bay the following
dispatch was sent:
THE eighth International geographic con-
gress at the close of it's first day in the
capital of the United States, as indicated by
the midnight time signals from the naval
observatory sent out in its honor. begs to
tender Its cordial thanks for it's hospitable
welcome In America"
To President Diaz at the City of Mexico
the following was telegraphed:
1.-The eighth international geographic con-
gress on the first day of its meeting In
America offers It's cordial greeting with
pleasant anticipations of a visit to your
capital"
To the various observatories receiving the
time signal the congress sent this brief
message
THE eighth international geographic con-
gress, now In session In Washington, sends
with this midnight signal from the naval
observatory it's greetings to the nations of
the world, through the courtesy of the va
rious telegraph and cable companies"
Messages of greetings were also sent to
President Francis of the ST. Louis EXPOSE
ton, Senator Depew and Stuyvesant Fish.
Replies came from Greenwich. England,
and from many observatories in this coun-
try.
Where Messages Were Delivered.
| partial list of the observatories and in
situations reached by the international sig
| nails Of the observatory follows:
! The Royal observatory, Greenwich Eng
land; Berlin observatory. Germany; Ham
| burg observatory, Germany; Paris observ-
atory, France; Pulkowa observatory, Rus
| sia: Royal observatory, Helsingfors, Fin
| land, Royal OUseTNdtoTyt Span
Royal observatory, Lisbon, Portugal; Royal
observatory of Roman College Rome, Italy;
Hong Kong observatory, China; Kikawei OBJ
| seryatory, Shanghai, China; Tokyo observa-
| tory, Japan; Madras observatory. India;
Mauritius observatory, Masri1iqs' E Fr,Ss
| Melbourne observatory, Australia; Adelaide
observatory, Australia; Sydney observatory,
Australia Wellington observatory. New
Zealand; Manila observatory; Philippine
l Cav1te.
pine islands; Rio Janeiro observa-
| tory, Brazil; Cordoba observatory, Ar
| eentina; Kingston observatory. Jamaica
| Harvard College observatory, Cambridge
Mass: MT. HoIyoke College observatory
South Hadley. Mass; Field Memorial! OBJ
| servatory, Williamstown, Mass; Ladd OBJ
| servatory, Providence. r. l.; Yale College
observatory, New Haven; Conn; the or
dletown, Conn: Columbia College OBJ
| servatory, New York, N. Y; Vassar Col
lege observatory, Poughkeepsie, n. Y.
Halsted observatory, Princeton. N. J.
| Allegheny observatory. Allegheny, Pa
| Flower observatory. University of Penn
! sylyania, Philadelphia, Pa; Haverfort
College observatory. Haverford, Pa; Gin
cinnau observatory. Cincinnati. Ohio
Arbor observatory, University Of Mich
gan, Ann Arbor. Mich; Yerkes observa
tory, williams Bay, Wis; Mortified Job
servatory, Mortified, Mimi; Washington
observatory, 81 lIOuiS, ho' Law ooSSIS
atory. Columbia, Mo-; Chamberlain OBJ
servatory, Denver. Col; Washburn OBJ
servatory, Madison. Wis: University o
Mississippi observatory, University p. O.
Miss; Lowell observatory, Flagstaff
Ariz; naval observatory. Mare Island
CAL: meteorological office, Toronto, Can.
fMcGin College observatory, Montreal
Can; Tacubaya observatory, City of Mex
leo; central meteorological station, Ha
yanas Cuba: Lick observatory, Mt. Hamil
ton. Cal.
The congress will be received by Mrs
| Gardiner Greene Hubbard at her countr
| place. Twin Oaks, this afternoon at
O'Clock. A number of ladies will assis
Mrs. Hubbard in receiving her guests. TIC
night at 8 o'clock at George Washingto
! University the congress will listen to a
interesting lecture by Mr.. Charles NJ Pei
per on The Bolivian Andes"
Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock and t.