Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-14
RADIO INACCURATE
IN TIME SIGNALS
Some of 1t Not Good Even for
Commercial Purposes,
Can't. Pollock Says.

Accurate time is in great demand
nv the people of the country, out ina I
sent out by radio by numerous broad
casting stations is not accurate Tor
scientific purposes. and some. of IL is
not even accurate for commercial pur'
poses, according to Capt. EDWIN i:
Pollock u. s. N, superintendent vi
the United States Naval observatory
here. In his annual report, mace pup
lie today. However, he says thal no
nna should be without the correct
time " as the noon and 10 pm. eastern
standard time signals are broadcas 81
from Arlington on 24.9, 37.4. T4.1, 49,
1850 and $50 meters, and from An
napolis on 17.145 meters.
The time signals were used ny ms
world longitude determination paftles
all over the world. by Canadian Gov
eminent parties. by the United states
Hvlrographic Office, land United states
Coast and Geodetic Survey parties on
longitude determinations. and in gray,
itv determinations by the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey, ny
scientists and by prospectors for oil
deposits.
1000 thine" Calls Daily.
This increased use of the signals
entails greatly increased work in the
time room" at the observatory,
which is short-handed, he saws, ana
adds that the growing use by the pub
lie and the desire for the correct
time" was indicated in November,
1926, when, due to the Western Union
Telegraph Co. having discontinued
giving time by telephone in this CITY.
il resulted in calls being made on the
Naval Observatory, increasing the re-
la
allow any business to be transacted
over the nhone, it was necessary on
November 20 to discontinue the "tele-
phone time service" altogether. plac'
ing Washington on the same footing
as other cities.
In February of this year, he saws.
a plate giving the latitude, longitude
and height above sea level OF the
Zero Mark" which is the reference
point of all surveys in the United
States, was installed in the clock
house at the observatory, on the
meridian of Washington"
Observation of eclipses has been
abandoned by the institution for sew
eral years, he says, and appropriations
have not been asked for two reasons
first. because the time of totality of
the eclipse of June % iast was very
short, and, secondly, because of the
small staff of the observatory and
the large amount of work on hand.
However. he says that Naval Observa-
tory apparatus has been loaned a
representative of the Smithsonian In
stitution for observing many eclipses.
New Sextant Devised.
The late Lieut.. Comdr. Noel Davis,
u. S. Naval Reserve. in cooperation
with NJ. l.. Radford of the bureau
of ordnance, submitted the design for
a new bubble sextant, which. he says,
gives promise of being the best solu-
ton yet offered for the use of a bubble
for the artificial horizon. Ten of the
instruments are being manufactured.
and it is expected that they will mark
a great advance in this type of instru-
ment.
General repairs and upkeep of the
buildings, grounds and roads, together
with routine cleaning and overhaulina
necessary for the care. preservation
and orderly appearance of a public
reservation, he says, has taxed the ca
pacity of the small force available
for the purpose to the utmost. with