Various - International Conference Held at Washington for the Purpose of Fixing a Prime Meridian and a Universal Day. October, 1884.

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Reasons of a national and religious character prevent us, however,
from abandoning this mode of counting our time. The majority of our
population is agricultural, working in the fields, and prefer to count
to sunset; besides, the hours for the Moslem prayers are counted from
sundown to sundown.

Therefore it is impossible for us to abandon our old system of time,
although in our navy we generally use the customary reckoning or
"heure a la franque."

Finally, permit me to state that I am ready to cast my vote in favor
of a universal hour, with the precise understanding that the universal
hour will have to be limited to international transactions, and that
will not interfere with the rules up to now in force in my own
country.

Before resuming my seat I wish to thank the President and the members
of the Conference for their kind indulgence in having listened to my
remarks.

The PRESIDENT, The Chair would remind the Delegate of Turkey that the
following resolution was passed at our last session:

"_Resolved_, That the Conference propose the adoption of a
universal day for all purposes for which it may be found
convenient, and which shall not interfere with the use of
local or other standard time where desirable."

The very difficulty which the Delegate of Turkey anticipates was thus
carefully provided for in the resolution just read.

Mr. SANDFORD FLEMING, Delegate of Great Britain. To my mind it is of
very great importance that this resolution should be adopted. I have
already given generally my views on this question, and therefore I do
not intend to trespass on the attention of the Conference beyond
saying a very few words. From what I have already ventured to submit,
it will be obvious that I hold that all our usages in respect to the
reckoning of time are arbitrary. Of one thing there can be no doubt.
There is only one, and there can only be one flow of time, although
our inherited usages have given us a chaotic number of arbitrary
reckonings of this one conception. There can be no doubt of another
matter; the progress of civilization requires a simple and more
rational system than we now have. We have, it seems to me, reached a
stage when a unification of the infinite number of time-reckonings is
demanded.

This unification will be, to a large extent, accomplished if the
resolution be adopted, and by adopting it, it seems to me to be in the
power of the Conference to confer lasting benefits on the world.

Universal time will in no way interfere with local time. Each separate
community may continue the usages of the past in respect to local
time, or may accept whatever change the peculiar conditions in each
case may call for. But the use of universal time will not necessarily
involve a change; it will rather be something added to what all now
possess. It will be a boon to those who avail themselves of it.

To the east of the prime meridian all possible local days will be in
advance; to the west all possible days will be behind the universal
day.

The universal day, as defined by the resolution, will at once be the
mean of all possible local days, and the standard to which they will
all be related by a certain known interval, that interval being
determined by the longitude.

In my judgment, the resolution is an exceedingly proper one, and the
Conference will act wisely in passing it.

The PRESIDENT. In taking the vote upon the resolution, it is requested
that the roll be called.

The following States voted in the affirmative:

Brazil, Liberia,
Chili, Mexico,
Colombia, Netherlands,
Costa Rica, Paraguay,
Great Britain, Turkey,
Guatemala, United States,
Hawaii, Venezuela.
Japan,

States voting in the negative:

Austria-Hungary, Spain.

Abstaining from voting:

France, San Domingo,
Germany, Sweden,
Italy, Switzerland.
Netherlands,

Ayes, 15; noes, 2; abstained, 7.

The PRESIDENT then announced that the resolution was passed.

Mr. RUTHERFURD, Delegate of the United States. Mr. President, I now
present for the consideration of the Conference the following
resolution:

"_Resolved_, That the Conference expresses the hope that as
soon as may be practicable the astronomical and nautical
days will be arranged everywhere to begin at midnight."

Before action is taken upon this resolution, I would make a verbal
correction. I think that the word "_mean_" ought to be introduced
before the word "_midnight_" and I therefore alter my resolution in
that way.

The vote was then taken upon the resolution just offered, and it was
carried without division.

The PRESIDENT. The Chair begs leave to state that the protocols in
French and in English of the first and second sessions of the
Conference, have been examined, and are now before the Conference for
adoption. If any Delegate wishes to make any correction in these
protocols, he can submit it to the Conference, and, if approved, it
can be immediately made.

No objection was raised, and the President put the question to the
Conference on the adoption of the protocols of the first and second
sessions in French and English, and they were unanimously adopted.

M. JANSSEN, Delegate of France. Mr. President, we have been directed
to present for the approval of the Congress the desire that studies
relative to the application of the decimal system to the division of
angular space and of time should be resumed in order that this
application may be extended to all cases--and they are numerous and
important--where it presents real advantages.

I would say that a similar desire upon the same subject was expressed
by the Conference at Rome.

You are aware, gentlemen, that at the time of the establishment of the
metrical system the decimal division had been extended to the
measurement of angular space and of time. Numerous instruments were
even made according to the new system. As to time, the reform was
introduced too abruptly, and, we might say, without enough discretion,
and it came into conflict with old habits and was quickly abandoned;
but as to the division of angular space, in which the decimal division
presented many advantages, the reform sustained itself much better,
and is still used for certain purposes. So, the division of the
circumference into 400 parts was adopted by Laplace, and we find it
constantly employed in the Mecanique Celeste. Delambre and Mechain
used, for the measurement of the are of the meridian from which the
metre was derived, repeating circles divided into "_grades_." Finally,
in our own time, Colonel Perrier, Chief of the Geographical Division
of our Department of War, has used instruments decimally divided, and
at the present time logarithmic tables appropriate to that method of
division are in course of calculation.

But it is especially when it is a question of making long
calculations of angular space that the decimal system presents great
advantages. In this respect we find, so to speak, only one opinion
expressed by scientists.

The Conference at Rome, which brought together so many astronomers,
geodetists, eminent topographers--that is to say, the men most
competent and most interested in the question--expressed in respect to
it a desire, the high authority of which it is impossible to mistake.

It is, therefore, now evident that the decimal system, which has
already done such good service in the measurements of length, volume,
and weight, is called upon to render analagous services in the domain
of angular dimensions and of time.

I know that this question of the decimal division encounters
legitimate doubts, principally as to its application to the
measurement of time. It is feared that we want to destroy habits fixed
for centuries, and upset established usages.

In this respect, gentlemen, I think that we ought to be fully
satisfied. The teachings of the past will be respected. It will be
perceived that if we failed at the time of the Revolution, it is
because we put forward a reform which was not limited to the domain of
science, but which did violence to the habits of daily life. It is
necessary to take the question up again, but with due regard to the
limits which common sense and experience would prescribe to wise and
well-informed men.

I think that the character of the reform would be well defined by
saying that it is intended especially to make a new effort towards the
application of the decimal system in scientific matters.

But, gentlemen, I have not to discuss here the bearing of the reforms
which the study of this question will lead to. It is sufficient for me
to show that there is in that direction an indispensable step to be
made, and to ask you to express the desire that the question should be
studied. I do not think that there is anybody here who would desire to
oppose a request which does not in truth commit us to any specific
solution of the question, and which appears so opportune at the
present time. I would ask the President to be so kind as to submit the
following proposition to the Conference:

"_Resolved_, That the Conference expresses the hope that the
studies designed to regulate and extend the application of
the decimal system to the division of angular space and of
time shall be resumed, so as to permit the extension of this
application to all cases where it presents real advantages."

The PRESIDENT. The Chair is of opinion that the Conference was called
for a special and somewhat narrow purpose, and the consideration of
the decimal system, proposed by the Delegate of France, seems to it
foreign to that purpose and beyond the scope of the Conference. The
President, however, simply acts for the Conference, and if the
Conference shall decide to take the matter up, he will acquiesce, but
it strikes the Chair that the resolution is out of order.

Gen. STRACHEY, Delegate of Great Britain. Sir, I desire to express my
personal views on this subject. I should be very happy to join the
Delegate of France in voting for such a resolution, but I fear that
there is a feeling among many of the delegates that it is not within
our competence to discuss it. If that is so, I would suggest whether
it might not be better that it should not be pressed to a vote. It
would be a pity if there should be on the records of the proceedings
of this Conference anything in the shape of a vote against the
subject-matter of this resolution. I consequently think that if
delegates have formed any decided opinion on the subject, they might
express their opinion without voting; but I repeat that it would be a
great pity if a negative vote should be taken on the subject of the
decimal system of dividing the circle and time, particularly as it was
received with unanimity in the Conference at Rome.

Prof. ADAMS, Delegate of Great Britain. Mr. President, I may say that
while I agree with Gen. STRACHEY in thinking that I should not like to
vote against the proposition brought forward by our eminent colleague,
Mr. JANSSEN, yet I feel it is somewhat beyond the scope of the
subjects which we have to discuss, and, therefore, I should abstain
from voting. I quite recognize that, for certain purposes, the decimal
division of the circle is very valuable.

The PRESIDENT. Unless the Conference decides to entertain this
proposition, the Chair suggests that no discussion shall take place.
If any member present desires to bring the matter up, he can do so by
taking an appeal from the decision just made.

Gen. STRACHEY, Delegate of Great Britain. Do I understand, sir, that
the subject is dropped?

The PRESIDENT. The Chair has decided that the resolution offered by
the Delegate of France is out of order, and unless a difference of
opinion is expressed by the Conference, the subject will be dropped.
The Chair wishes to treat with the most distinguished deference the
Delegate of France, because we are all most happy to do honor to him
in every way. Does the Chair understand that the Delegate of France
appeals from its decision, and wishes to take the sense of the
Conference upon it?

Mr. JANSSEN, Delegate of France, replied in the affirmative.

Commodore FRANKLIN, Delegate of Colombia. Mr. President, I would like
hear the resolution read again. If it be merely a suggestion to
consider the subject of the decimal system, I should like to know it.

The vote was then taken upon the appeal of the Delegate of France from
the decision of the Chair.

States voting in favor of the appeal:

Austria-Hungary, Netherlands,
Brazil, San Domingo,
Chili, Spain,
France, Switzerland,
Italy, Turkey,
Japan, Venezuela.
Mexico,

States voting against the appeal:

Colombia, Hawaii,
Costa Rica, Liberia,
Germany, Paraguay,
Great Britain, United States.
Guatemala,

Abstaining from voting:

Russia, Sweden.

Ayes, 13; noes, 9; abstained, 2.

The PRESIDENT. The appeal from the decision of the Chair is sustained,
and the proposition offered by the Delegate of France is now before
the Conference. If no delegate wishes to speak upon the resolution,
the vote will be taken.

Mr. JANSSEN, Delegate of France. Mr. President, before the definitive
vote I desire to again call my colleague's attention to the fact that
it is a question here of the much-needed extension of the decimal
system, an extension desired by a large number of the highest
scientific authorities and of the most distinguished observers. As I
said only a moment ago, the Congress at Rome, whose high authority in
the matters which have occupied us is acknowledged, was a still higher
authority as to astronomy, geodesy, topography; that is to say, in the
domain to which our proposition relates. At Rome a wish, similar to
that which we ask you to formulate, was expressed. Besides, if we
observe that it is a question here only of expressing the desire that
studies should be resumed upon the matter in question, is there anyone
among us who would wish to oppose the liberal proposition which
prejudges nothing in the solution of the question, but which will
surely lead to important progress. I do not doubt, then, that all our
colleagues will desire to unite in a resolution, which by its object
and by the manner in which it is expressed, ought, it appears to me,
to unite the suffrages of all.

No further remarks were made upon the resolution, and the vote was
accordingly taken on the question whether it should be adopted.

States voting in the affirmative:

Austria-Hungary, Mexico,
Brazil, Netherlands,
Chili, Paraguay,
Colombia, Russia,
Costa Rica, San Domingo,
France, Spain,
Great Britain, Switzerland,
Hawaii, Turkey,
Italy, United States,
Japan, Venezuela.
Liberia,

States voting in the negative: None.

Abstained from voting:

Germany, Sweden.
Guatemala,

Ayes, 21; noes, 0; abstained, 3.

The PRESIDENT. The resolution of the Delegate of France is, therefore,
adopted.

General STRACHEY, Delegate of Great Britain. Sir, before concluding
the session to-day, I hope that the Delegates will be in a position to
listen to the two resolutions which I now desire to propose, and which
I think will tend to clear up a good deal of the discussion which we
have had. The first of these resolutions is as follows:

"The Conference adopts the opinion that, for the purposes of
civil life, it will be convenient to reckon time, according
to the local civil time at successive meridians destributed
round the earth, at time-intervals of either ten minutes, or
some integral multiple of ten minutes, from the prime
meridian; but that the application of this principle be
left to the various nations or communities concerned by it."

This resolution, as it stands, embraces all the practical suggestions
which have been made on the subject up to the present time. The only
limitation it proposes to put upon the adoption of what may be called
local standard time is that the breaks shall be at definite intervals
of ten minutes or more.

The second resolution which I propose is a very simple one. It is
this:

"The arrangements for adopting the universal day in
international telegraphy should be left for the
consideration of the international telegraph congress."

There has been established by an international arrangement a congress
which meets every two years to settle questions of international
telegraphy, and I think that the precise manner in which universal
time may be adapted to telegraphy would very properly be left to that
congress.

Mr. DE STRUVE, Delegate of Russia. On behalf of the Delegates of
Russia, I beg to make the following remarks:

We have already expressed the opinion that the universal time could be
properly used for international postal, railway, and telegraphic
communications. But it is to be understood that local or any other
standard time, which is intimately connected with daily life, will
necessarily be used side by side with the universal time.

It has been proposed, in order to establish an easier connection
between local and universal time, to accept twenty-four meridians at
equal distances of 1 hour or 15 deg., or to divide the whole circumference
of the earth by meridians at distances of 10 minutes of time or 21/2 deg..

This question not yet having been made the subject of special and
thorough investigation by the respective Governments, and not having
been discussed at the International Conference at Rome, we believe
that it would as yet be difficult to express, in regard to Europe, any
positive opinion on the practical convenience of the above mentioned
or other possible methods of dividing the globe into equal time-zones.

We would suggest to recommend that the system of counting the hours of
the universal day from 0 to 24, which probably will be adopted for the
universal day, might also be introduced for counting the local time
side by side with the old method of counting the hours of 0 to 12 A.
M. and 0 to 12 p. m.

Count LEWENHAUPT, Delegate of Sweden. I have had the honor to transmit
to the members of the Conference a resume of a report on this subject
made by Professor Gylden, an eminent Swedish astronomer, whose name,
no doubt, is familiar to many of the Delegates. The system proposed by
Mr. Gylden is similar to the one now proposed by the Delegate for
Great Britain. The only difference is that Mr. Gylden, in explaining
the system, recommends the adoption of equidistant meridians,
separated by intervals of 21/2 deg., or 10 minutes of time, while the
proposition of the Delegate for Great Britain is so worded that this
distance may be greater than 10 minutes. This difference is, however,
only a question of detail. The basis of Mr. Gylden's system is that
time meridians should be separated from the standard initial meridian
by either 10 or some integral multiple of 10 minutes. Therefore, I
shall, with pleasure, vote for the resolution of the Delegate from
Great Britain.

I beg only permission of the Conference to insert Mr. Gylden's report
as part of my remarks:

_RESUME OF A REPORT read before the Swedish Geographical
Society by Hugo Gylden, Professor of Astronomy and member of
the Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, concerning the use of
Equidistant Meridians for the fixation of the Hour._

If we suppose the meridian passing through the Observatory
of Greenwich extended round the globe, this grand circle
will cut the equator, at 180 deg. from Greenwich, at some place
a little east of New Zealand. This meridian falls almost
entirely in the Ocean, and cuts, in any case, not more than
a few small islands in the Pacific. If we suppose, further,
another great circle at 90 deg. from the meridian of Greenwich,
the western half touches very nearly New Orleans, and the
eastern half passes a few minutes from Calcutta. If, now,
the hour is fixed according to these four meridians, we have
four cardinal times--one European, one American, one
Asiatic, and one Oceanic.

It will, however, be necessary to fix much more than one
civil time for Europe. Therefore I suppose for Europe a
whole system of meridians, which, however, ought not to be
closer together than 21/2 deg.. The difference of time between
these meridians is then only 10 minutes, which, in general,
can be considered as an insignificant difference between the
civil and the true solar time. The starting point of this
system is the meridian of Greenwich. To the west the system
ought to extend 30 minutes; to the east 21/2 hours, or to a
meridian passing near Moscow.

I suppose as time zero the meridian of Greenwich. The next
meridian to the east is meridian 1. This meridian will not
pass far from the Observatory of Paris, because the
difference between this meridian 1 and the meridian of Paris
is only 40 seconds, an insignificant difference in civil
life. The meridian 1 can be called the meridian of Paris, or
French meridian.

The second meridian (to the east of Greenwich) does not
touch Utrecht, but will pass so close that the time of this
city could, without the least inconvenience, be regulated as
if the difference of time between Greenwich and Utrecht were
exactly 20 minutes. The second meridian would also pass
almost as close to Amsterdam, (22s.,) and would not be far
from Marseilles, (1m. 29s.) In the vicinity of the third
meridian we have, first, Bern, (16s.;) next, a little
further, Turin, (42s.) The fourth meridian is close to
Hamburg, Altona, and Gottingen, (respectively 6s. and 14s.)
Not far from the same meridian is Christiania, although at a
distance of a little over 2 minutes. The fifth meridian
passes also close to three large cities--Rome, (5s.,)
Leipzig, (26s.,) and Copenhagen, (20s.)

The sixth meridian does not touch any city of importance,
but it coincides very nearly with the meridian adopted for
the normal civil time in Sweden; the difference amounts only
to 15 seconds.

The seventh meridian touches the little town of Brieg, in
the vicinity of Breslau, and Koenigsberg is situated two
minutes from the eighth. The ninth meridian passes less than
one minute to the west of Abo, and is situated at a distance
of only a few seconds from Mistra, a town in Greece. The
tenth meridian almost touches Helsingfors in Finland. As
regards the eleventh meridian, I have not been able to find
any locality of importance exactly so situated that it
merits a place in this list, but I can, however, mention
the cities of Minsk and Jassy. The twelfth meridian is
situated 1m. 14s. to the west of the Academy of Sciences, in
St. Petersburg, and the distance from Kiew is about the
same. It is not necessary to continue the enumeration of the
other meridians to the east by intervals of 10 minutes, but
I will mention that Moscow is situated _2h. 30m. 17s._ to
the east of Greenwich, and in consequence the system would
be convenient with regard to this city.

If we pass to the west of Greenwich, we will find that the
first meridian west touches the little town of Almeria, in
the south of Spain, which country extends to equal distances
on both sides of this meridian, east and west, and the
situation of Portugal is the same with regard to the third
meridian west.

Then, in all the towns and localities given above, of which
the greater part are of some importance, the local time
coincides so closely with times differing from the Greenwich
time, by whole multiples of 10 minutes, that there is no
reason to fear any real inconvenience if these times were
taken to regulate local reckonings. If the different
countries in Europe should decide to adopt the system which
I have explained, the following system of normal times
would, perhaps, be found convenient:

EAST OF GREENWICH.

1st Meridian, France.
2d " Holland and Belgium.
3d " Switzerland.
4th " Norway, (and Western Germany.)
5th " Denmark, Germany, and Italy.
6th " Sweden and Austria.
7th " Eastern Germany.
8th " Hungary.
9th " Poland and Greece.
10th " Finland, Roumania, and Bulgaria,
11th " European Turkey.
12th " Western Russia.

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