Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1883 — STANDARD TIME. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STANDARD TIME.

Hitherto There Have Been Flfty-tliree Kinds of Time; Now There Will Be bat Five—How the American Continent Is Arranged in Divisions. [From the Chicago Tribune.] We present herewith a map explaining the standaid time which was adopted at noon Nov. 18 by the railroads of the North American continent, and In connection herewith ane published tables showing the difference between the now time and the local or solar time of the leading cities of the country. A change somewhat similar to that which is now effected in America was brought about in England as long ago as Jan. 13, 1848, and a reform could no longer be delayed in this country owing to the complications arising under the old dispensation. It may not be generally known that the railroads of this country have been conducted of late years under flfty-tbree different kinds of time, the difference between the times being very slight in some instances, but enough to make people miss trains repeatedly, besides causing other inconvenience. FIVE GRAND DIVISIONS. The fifty-three kinds of time were repre-

sented on the old railroad maps by an elaborate system of colors which would confuse an ordinary observer. Under the new system there are five divisions of time on the North Amerioan continent: Intercolonial, embracing; Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; Eastern, taking; in the New England States, New York, Pennsylvania, and the States south of Pennsylvania; Central, including Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and the Btates north and south of them; Mountain, comprising the roads west of the Missouri river in the mountains; and Pacific, taking in the lines on the Pacific coast. THE FIVE COLORS. The five colors cannot be given in the map herewith presented, but the divisions aro marked by shades, and the change will be comprehended at a glance when these facts are recalled. The time in which the earth revolves upon Its axis is divided into twentyfour equal parts, termed hours, and for convenience in measuring distances the distance around the earth from east to west is divided into 360 parts, called degrees of longitude. The surface of the earth, therefore, travels as many degrees in one hour as twenty-four is contained times in 360, or fifteen. From this it is seen that there is a difference of one hour actual time between each succeeding fifteen degrees of longitude

around the earth faster going east and slower going west. FIFTEEN DEGREES AN HOUR. The railroad officials of the continent decided to adopt as their standard of regulation the time of the Greenwich observatory, London, England, and as the longitude in which their roads were situated was so many times fifteen degrees westward from Greenwich, they made their time that many hours slower than Greenwich time. Hence the 60th degree of longitude is four hours slower than Greenwich time; the 75th, five hours slower; the 90th, six hours; the 105th, seven hours, and the 120th eight hours—thus making five different standards between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. These five standards are shown on the map in the order just men-: tioned, viz.: Intercolonial, Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific time. MERIDIANS. The 90th meridian, on which Central time is based, is nine minutes slower than Ohicago solar time. The 75th meridian which gives Eastern time, is one hour faster than Central time, or four minutes slower than New York city solar time. Inter-colonial time, being based upon the 60th meridian, is two hours faster than the Central time. Mountain time, which is based on the 105th meridian, is one hour slower than Central time.

Pacific time based upon the 120th meridian, is two hours slower than Central time. The several meridians are indicated upon the map, as well as the territory included in the diflerent divisions. The irregularity in the boundaries is caused by the various roads wishing to adopt as their standard the time of the meridian nearest which the greater number of their lines are situated. The country is indebted to two citizens of New York for the original suggestions leading up to this important innovation. The idea occurred to Prof. Cleveland Abbe, of the Signal Bureau at Washington, and his plans were elaborated by Dr. F. A. P. Barnard, of Columbia college. Prof. Abbe proposed his plan as early as 1878 at a meeting of the American Meteorological society. It is unnecessary to review the many discarded suggestions made from time to time in regard to time standards. Suffice it to say that' they were all found to be too sweeping and revolutionary. The scheme which is now adopted has received the emphatic approval of a number of scientific associations, among them the American Meteorological society, the American Geographical society, the Canadian Institute, the International Geographical Congrees at Venice, and the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg.

PACIFIC TIME.

MOUNTAIN TIME.

CENTRAL TIME.

EASTERN TIME.

INTERCOLONIAL TIME.