Year: 1873

PRACTICAL SCHEME CARRIED OUT by TIE WEST


TRN UNION TELEGRAPH COSPANY-A UNIFORM


TINE PROMISED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY-A


REMARKABLE ISyENuON-A PREVENTIVE or


RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.


The application of the resources Of the Ma
tiona Observatory Washington to the distribution Of
accurate standard and uniform public time mas been at
last undertaken by the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany which promises to furnish TO all the principal
cities Of the United States frequently during the day


as may be required, the exact time computed by the
Central Observatory. This subject has been talked Of
for years. but the lack OF facilities for disseminating
the time and the chance OF any great public necessity
which called for its distribution failed to call forth the
requisite inventive genius to accomplish the purpose
But what was looked upon 20 years ago as desirable
has come to DO regarded as iDdspensably neces-
sary. The joining Of New-EOrk and the ElSt' by a
continuous line of railway, with Chicago St. LOUIS
Omaha and san Francisco, the ultimate relations or
transit existing between the Canada border ana the
cities OF the South and the OF the arteral lines
OF intercOmmuncaton between distant parts OF the
country require that uniform time should regulate
the running Of trains, and govern, in manner tue
banking and mercantile Institutions OF Che nation The
fret practical movement in this direction was under
taken about months ago, By Gen. Ackert Of the West
ern Union Telegraph Company, it being evident that to
insure uniang distribution % tho time the wires OF THIS
Company must be used, as tho communication of the
central time could depend for Transmission upon one
wire alone which liable to DC broken disturbed by
storms other influences.


Gen. Ackert ana Mr. Brown finally agreed upon their
plan Of action and arranged with the authorities OF the
Washington Observatory to send their time at meridian
of each day 10 tie main oce OF the Western Union Tele
graph Company In ,this city. The connection was ac-
cordingy made between the Observatory clock at wash
ngton and large chronomeer in tho telegraph Office Of
this city. 1t was made IN this manner: Beneath Ihe
pendulum Of the Observatory clock s located glass
cup in which is placed globe OF mercury sufficiently
elevated above the edge 70 touch the bottom OF the
pepdulum as II vbrates TO aud fro. From the bottom
Of the cup wire extends 70 battery IN the ODserya-
tory From the top Of the pendulum wire reaches to
the telegraph Office in this city, where 1t Is connected
with an electric bell This bell is placed Immediately
in front Of the chronOmeer, and every me the bottom
Of the pendulum OF the Observatory clock touches the
bali OF mercury, which OF course, every second the
electric bell in this city gives the Information BY com
pairing the strokes OF the bell with the movement of the
pendulum OF tho chronomeer behind It, 1t Is always
manifest whether tho tmekeeper in Broadway Is gain


ing or losing running in uniformity with Washing
ton time. But to keep the bell in continual operation
would mOnopoze tho OF ontlro wire between the
two cities therefore the Company arranged to receive
the time only at midday This begun on June 2l,
and experience has shown that the daily variations
from Washington time will not average over one second
The difference time between the two cities is IL min
utes and u seconds. At Ave minutes before noon
at Washington all business is suspended on one OF
the wires OF the Company extending between the two
cities and at minutes before II o'clock the wire
which connects with the battery joined to the bottom
OF the pendulum making complete circuit every time
the penduum vlbTates and thus indicating the seconds
on the bell in this city, AT the exact hour Of noon. by
an adjustment OF the pendulum two strokes are made
upOn The bell and for co seconds aerward The wire Is
then disconnected and the usual business transacted by


sba11I b.nn ia
with the railroad companies to furnish them with time
at the principal cities along the route, the connection
with the Observatory clock Will be maintained through
out the day and night.


Tho fluctuations of tho clock in this city have thus far
been obyated by mechanical means and the chronom-
eter regulated by hand But an arrangement has just
been perfected whereby tho clock will Indicate the time
automatically Two steel bars are attached to the sides
of the of the pendulum. These play at each vi
byaion into tho center OF spool OF fno wire. These
coils OF wire which arc magnets completing the circuit
with tho Washington Observatory clock, regulate the
movement OF tho pendulum, making uniform with
that of tho Washington clook, aud thus preventing any
difference bewteon thom Arrangements arc now making
with tho principal railway companies 10 havo
clocks located at some OF tho principal cities
along tho routes, 10 be connected with the clock
OF the telegraph Office in this city in the
manner mentioned above, and the time from the OBJ
scryatory every three six hours during the day
may be nnaly determined upon Tnese clocks
will be located at Albany, Buffalo, Erie. Chicago,
g. Louis Cleveland, Memphis Milwaukee, and other
leading ces whilo from them connections will be made
with tho smaller cities and towns along the the
same manner or by means OF the magnetic dial. The
latter simple and cheap process OF communicating
tme and illustrated apty In the Western Unon Tele-
graph building At Lboryst. and Broadway. where, In
tho upper stories faces OF clocks look down
upon the visitor, record tho time OF day but
entirely destitute Of works. These are all operated
by eeetrio-maenet, which operates from the chro
nometer In the room below upon them At the top OF
the circle in which the secondhand OF the chronometor
reyolves wire projects in contact with the
secondhand for second only Tho other end OF
Is attached to magnet located behind tho different
coek-faoes In tho building. wire also extends from
the other end OF the secondhand 10 galvanc battery.
Whom the point Of the revolving second hand comes IN
contact with the projecting wire OF circuit Is
established, and the hands ia tho electric dials move