The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-03-16
SAVING TIME

to ave time, and a recently gained
sufficient favor to justify considera.
ton in all communities. 1t is based
upon sound reasons, financially and So
cialIy.
In using solar time by which to
measure our movements, we waste a
large amount of daylight which might
be conserved if we would but begin
our work-day earlier. We would ave
a large number of dollars we now ex-
pend for artificial light, and we would
give those employed within doors an
opportunity to enjoy outdoor recrea-
ton, especially during the summer
months.
To make a change in time means, of
course, disorganization and confusion
for a time, The element of time en-
ters into practically every phase of
life.
The time used in all the affairs of
civil iife in practically every civilized
country is what IS known as mean
solar time, as distinguished from rue
solar time recorded by sun daiis. The
mean solar day begins at midnight.
Prior to 1883 there existed through
out the United States a great variety
of time" derived from various sources
and used in The conduct of public and
private affairs. Confusion and incon-
venience was the result. In 1888. on
November IS, by the joint action of the
railway companies and the people of
The severa; communities seconded by
the. support OF a nuslber of the de-
partments of the government acting
independently, a uniform standard
time system was adopted. The
try vas divided into time zones
as Eastern, CentIal, Mountain
and Pacific time, respectively governed
by the mean time of the 18th, Goth,
iO5th and 120th degrees west of Green
witch.
The time at all places in any zone
is the same. and the difference in time,
travelling west, between any two adj
iacent zones is one hour earlier. At
~ O'Clock Eastern time, it is II a. m.
Central time, 10 a. M. Mountain time,
and 9 a. m. Pacific time.
The meridian passing through
England, which was adopt
ed as the prime meridian" at an In
Iernational Meridian conference held
Washington IN October, 1884, is the
meridian from which all calculations !,
time are made both on land and OF
he high seas all over the world. In a
lew sections of the country mean
Iocsl time is used in addition to
Standard time, but this practice is
gradually being abandoned.
AT the United States naval observ- /,
,torjes at Washington, d. c., and at
1are Island, Cal, government experts
tally determine by astronomical OBJ |
;ervations the correct solar time. The
esults of these observations are re-
,orded by means of a chronograph
rom which the transmitting clocks
re regulated so accurately that they
re seldom in error to a greater
than one-tenth or two-tenths
# a second. These clocks are con-
by wire with the Western
operating department in Wash
ngton and San Francisco and every
In the veal excepting Sundays and
,olidays, beginning at 11:55 a. nj. and
nding at exactly IL noon at the 18th
nd 105th m~eridians, the time shown
the naval observatory transmitted
q seconds to all Western Union OPT
rating departments, where the beats
re picked up and automatically
transmitted over the company's tele-
system throughout the length
breadth of the United States.
This is the standard time of the Uni
ID States. 1t furnishes the basis for
r~actically the whole Industrial, COM
,ercial and social life of the country.
he enormous value of the plant set
part by the Western Union for these