New-York tribune., 1905-01-02
EARTH TINE TEST FAILS.
BE6TEN By W4R NEWS.
znstvulia Gables Hold Up Washing
ton Men Year Messages.
ryRo1f TIE TRIBUNE BuRrAu,l

washinsron Jan. THE New Years greet
ings sszt from the Naval Observatory at the
birth OF the year 1905 failed TO reach round the
world. The Eastern Extension and australasia
Telegraph Company said its wires were so busy
that they could not be spared for the few min
utes required for the signal Consequently, the
fine test. By which st was hoped to ascertain
whether other great clocks OF the world were
right" by our national standard, was a pro-
nounced failure. The occident failed. apparent
ly. TO receive the signals dispatched from Wash
ington at midnight
An the necessary preliminary preparations
had been made as upon the two preceding oc-
casions when the messages flashed over SOO-
600 miles of telegraph lines and covered three
quarters OF the civilized world In an instant
All the telegraph companies In the United States
and Canada recently gave assurances 20 Admiral
colbyM Chester, the superintendent OF the Naval
Observatory. that they would do their utmost TO
facilitate the experiment. ard General a. w.
Grsely, chief OF the Signal Corps. promised him
Go place Rll the cable lines Of the War Depart
snent at his service. Lieutenant Commander E.
e. Hayden. who IS IN charge OF the nary's nauti-
Cal Instruments end of chronometers and time
service az the observatory. made all arrange
rnents for the connection Of the wires at the in
stitutton with the telegraph lines that lead from
Washington 20 the outside world.
EXPERTS ON HAND.
Expert telegraphers and mechanics were on
hand last night TO remedy any defects in the ap-
parstus that might threaten the success OF the
tests. and J. W. Collins, chief operator of the
Western Union Telegraph Company, was present
90 lend what assistance he could.
AS IN the last hours OF 19o2-'03, when prac-
tioslly the same trials were made, the signals
were arranged TO start az five minutes before
midnight Ave minutes before !. FIVE minutes be-
fore 2 and i've minutes before o'clock. The
messages consisted OF the single second beats
transmitted automatically from the standard
clock Of the observatory to the telegraph wire.
continuing for four minutes and twenty-nine
seconds before each hour stroke. Then for the
Intervening tine until the hour ended
there was q pause, and on the stroke OF the hour
itself one long. strong impulse. The preliminary
strokes on the seconds and the pause were cal
cuisted TO fssten the attention OF whomsoever
was within sound of the telegraph instruments
ali over the world that when the sixtieth sec
ond struck the listener would be sure 20
recognize IL.
About twenty women ana men. mostly friends
OF Admiral Chester and Commander Hayden,
gathered in the commanders ofice 10 witness
the trials an6 watch the old year out The in
Erruments were placed a mahogany cabinet
at one side of the room, and TO the ordinary
onlooker they seemed mere mass Of brass
plates, keys wires and gutta peTcha knobs. As
each second was ticzed of, there a flash. a
trsnble and bel!-like note from this network
of machinery and the visitors present held their
breath or uttered little exclamations OF excite
ment
We'll I don't understand It yet" remarked
one white haired man. ''why do they keep ring
ing that bell? I don't see why they can't send
the last one first and DO away with all this bell
ringing
HINTS AT JEALOUSY.
There will probably be some delay IN get
ting round the world tonight" said Admiral
Chester. after he had explained the mechanism
The eastern extension cable on the other side
is fun of Japanese and Russian war business
that they may not be able to give US the time
we want However. we are hoping for the best"
Efter The last stroke Of u had been sounded
the visitors all wished each other a happy
New Year and most of them went home.
Admiral Chester, Commander Hayden and
Mr. Collins remained until 3 a. IN. TO receive
acknowledging dispatches from remote observa-
tories. Up to a late hour this evening nothing
had been heard from Europe. Australia. Asia
Africa Replies came promptly from the
branch photographic Offices IN Chicago, McGin
University, Montreali Aberdeen University,
Hamilton. Ontario; Columbia. Mo-. and
Mortified, MINI. All these points received the
who reported that Washington time .06 Of
a second slow. All the replies wished the Of
1icials in Washington HAPPY New Year"
II think that a little jealousy may have
prompted the Eastern Extension Company TO
deny. US their wires." said Admiral Chester, COM
nasnting on the failure OF the messages to travel
as Tar he had hoped they would. There
was nothing IN II for them. in the first place, and
then effort TO advertise Washington stand
ard time mey have been received with small
favor in England. They swear by Greenwich
over there. you know"
Nothing more was heard from the test until
late this afternoon, when two belated messages
came IN. the first from Tacubaya, Mexico, and
the other from Cordoba. Argentina. The latter
from the director Of the observatory was in
cipher that could not be translated to-day. The
message from Mexico follows:
'.All signals received perfectly via Galveston;
o.64 OF second slow. Please accept our best
wishes and greetings.
FELIPE VALE Director"
Much curiosity is manifested on the failure Of
Eonolulu. Midway and Manila 10 make any ac-
11Eowledgment, as well as The silence maintained
by the Pacific Coast OF the United States
Alasks ana Porto Rico. in all these places
prompt replies We're expected from officials of
Shfs government.