' ^: ' .- " JLSH- ' JJ sr ^ -T K rXr' '*/-*• • , «2-V_^-<-'c5,, f ^^^~.' t. -r:_-«^<- Y J- C**>*-4^ •^^•^*^^.«2o^^ ^ -^•fj^ .-.y." - .'^j,,^^^^^^^^.^;^ r ' «*v S^-r^ r> LETTER V. ,**r •■ *Vv^ >-:*--*^-; TO THE (I^^kEQWEJ^T OF THE AME^CAJ^ SOCIETY : F0f2 THE A(DVAJ^CEMEJ^T of SC1EJ<ICE, ON THE SUBJECT OF STANDARD TIME •- FOE THE - UNITED STATES of AMERICA, CANADA and MEXICO, BY SANDFORD FLEMING, C. E. Chairman Special Committee Am. Soc. Civil EtujineerSf TfRESENTEfD at the MONT^kEAL CONFEfRENCE, AUQUBT, 183g. 238145 /"•>. ;^ ^^..O-ww..- »■ ^ S4 ■ i fj<>OC- s i\ ■■* -^ i'^'''^s"'' J :.^ \ .»' LETTER FROM MR. FLEMING, C.E: - 'J- '• - ■: OTTAWA, JULY SIst, 1882. •jji. ♦'>'»■• • %'y'^.- ' . ' ■ yj To THE PRKSIDENT OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE- MENT OP Science. Sib, — I am desirous of bringing under the notice of the AsvSoeiation a subject of general public interest, and as I find it will be imposssible for me to be present at the meeting to be held in Montreal next month, I take the liberty of addressing you in this form. T beg leave to direct your attention to the subject of regulating time,and the establishment of a Prime Meridian, to be common to all nations fur the purpose ot reckoning time and longitude. The subject has attracted attention on both sides of the Atlantic. In Europe, within the last two or three years, it has been considered by scientific societies in Kussia, Prussia, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, France and England. On this continent it has been discussed in the United States and Canada : at the Americtn Metrological Society, the American Society of Civil Engineers, at the Royal Society of Canada, and the Canadian Institute, Toronto. The Associution I am now addressing has equally had the subject under consideration. Last year the American Society of Civil Engineers met in convention in Montreal. The question was then discussed and referred to a special committee. This committee has examined the subject with attention, and it has from time to time reported such recommendations as the members fblt it incumbent upon them to make. At the meetings held in New York on the 18th February, and at the Washington Convention on the 17th 1 May, they were autliorized to take steps to gain information, and invite the co-operation of other societies with the view of promoting a settlement of the (juestion. ^ As Chairman of the* special v^ommittee referred to, I beg leave to bring the matter under the notice of the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science. I respectfully submit, it is entitled to their consideration as one of special importance to the whole continent of North America, and as one having a general interest to the inabitants of every country throughout the world. The first report of the Special Committee was submitted to the meeting of the American Society of Civil Engineers in January last. It set forth that it was expedient to obtain an expression of opinion as to the main proposition, and the best means of carrying it out ; and it was recom- mended that the papers which had been read on the subject should be printed, and, together with a series of (questions, be submitted to men prominent as engineers, as railway managers and operators, and to others of scientific reputation. A series of (juestions were accordingly drawn up and obtained the approval of the Society. Together with a scheme for the general notation of time, and such papers as were held to throw light on the subject they were published in the form of a brochure ^ and forwarded to prominent men throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The replies received were submitted to the Convention held at Wash- ington in May, and the Committee reported that, judging from the replies, there is a strong feeling throughout the country for establishing a comprehensive system of time-reckoning, based on a main zero or prime meridian, with twenty four secondary or hour meridians 15 ® of longitude apart, so chosen rhat no national preponderance with regard to it can be asserted. The zero meridian to be identical with the prime meridian for reckoning the terrestial longitude, and to be established by international conference, so as to be acceptable to the civilized world. . <. r- 1 • >->fK ^ ., The replies received are •[mblislied in full. .. ,.\-v\f1j,-\i-^.^'.^n^i^u-\iV:,')r, The Coinmittoe jiccordingly recommended that steps be taken*to effect ' the result desired. The selection of a prime meridian was deemed the first great object to be accomplished; and it was considered of primary unpor- tance that this initial step should be concurred in e<iually on the European as on the American Continent, and that every eflbrt should be mado to this end. Failing, however, to secure general acceptance, the Committee' recommended that the peoi)le of th<3 Western Continent should determine a zero meridian for their own use and guidance, with the view of establishing, as speedily as practicable, a suitable time system for the United StatcSj,.! Canada and Mexico. ; .w ,: ^ . .</(-. -r .'':.ftH' i>^.iV.^iv'>o« •/ This report was adopted, and it was resolved to petition tneftongi'ess of the United States to take the necessary steps to have a i)rime meridian established. Other societies, notaVy the Metrological Society Having *^ petitioned and influenced Congress to take the matter into considerati^tfV- the resolution appended, after due deliberation and investigation by coili- mittees, passed the House^of Representatives on the 6th instant, an cY 'con -^' currence of the Senate was sought by message. The resolution was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, wh ich Committee reported fa voraWyj, a few days ago (18th July), recommending the passage of the. ^pirtc/.. Resolution with the single amendment that the number of delegates to? represent the United States be increased from three to five, f' »*'*^* iP^'^*'^ Respectfully I conceive that I am warranted in assuming that the * Congress of the United States will concur in the passage of the Joint Resolution *^ To authorize the President of the United States to ball art International Conference to fix on and recommend for univei*sal adoption a common prime meridian to be used in the reckoning of longitude and in the regulation of time^throughout the world." The benefits resulting^ from the action of Congress, as in all inter- national intercourse, will tend undoubtedly to develop a wider, a more cosmopolitan tone of thought, and will create a common ground of action in all civilized j)eoi>les. In no limitedextent it will aid in the encouragement ^,^. of enlarged syrapathies unmarked l>y national Heltishno.ss. Directly, it will j^^;,pi'0vi4Q the only key to true time reform throughout the globe, Thu« the ^^^ ^(jJpngreaaofthe United Stat s on passing the Joint Resolution will have taken ^^ forwai-d atep in the world's progress. A prime meridian determined upon . . . as contemplated, and assented to by all nations, will afford the basis for establishing a great time system oi a series of time systems, each one in ^ , accord with the other, to meet the demands of science, and of commerce, to .J ' ^ and oi social life in every country of the world. ^HOJ.fiJ*:'' go soon as a zero meiidifc\n shall have been established in the manner set forth, it is proposed to hold a convention of delegates representing Scientific ^^.. sccietiea,Rail way corporationSjChambers of Commerce, Departments of State, ^ J.: . and other bodies interested thix>ughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. J[t is proposed to hold the convention in New York or Wash'ngton, and its ^^f object will bo to examine intj all the considerations which bear upon the . ,,, question, and to determine and recommend a system for regulating time y, which will secure the greatest advantages to all interested, in every locality j\f» in North America. irUfiiic -f'^ Chairman of the Special Committee to which I have referred, I ^"* desire respectfully to express the hope that the Association for the *^ Advancement of Science will be disposed to co-operate as far as practicable in this movement. With this object in view, I further beg leave to f \ suggest that delegates be appointed to represent the Association at the proposed convention. \u. ]Xvi c 1 have the honour to enclose copies of the several papers to which I /» A ■ ha-Ve referred. :.. <n. u v . - fl> j/i^e o.b:jii>^m>' Jc .v.-.v i'V- I have the honour to be, . . . • " ^ Sir, . '■ - . ■':::•--•- ^ ■ • » ' ■ .• .•r^jVti llfi <4l 1^ ejesc. i^^ii^V' i' ; :;. . ^^ ^ ^ Your obedient servant, ' ^-^ >Ni * <-isl.iw ^6 ^bvt»L ail f . : ,^ SANDFORD FLEMING. yjl^J-^OS Ito ^Vfl'^' "^ < -•-■ii,- * » ^■•.M<i-V :WT^KI DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED. 1 Joint Resolution of the Congress of the United States. ' " '' '^'^ ' ~ 2 Rei>ort of the Special Committee of American Society Civil Endneers. r- 17th May, 1882. . ' ^*-:--l- -.'^it^-al. ^ 3 Brochure issued by American Society Civil Engineers, with plates, &c. ' 4 Replies to Questions submitted by Special Committee of American : Society Civil Engineers. - :^ ■ -v^) n. »^i.u^^«*km^ k -It ;--.J«^; -•;>•■ i^H' u-t^/: ol »' ; T r ». ,; . •• IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. JULY 6, i882. JOINT RESOLUTIONS. To authorize the President of the United States to call an international conference to fij^ on and recommend for universal adoption a common prime meridian to be used in the reckoning of loiigtitude and the regulation 'of time * throughout the world. 1 Resolved by tlie- Smate and House of Reirresentatives of the United States of 2 America "'n Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be 3 authorized and requested to extend to the governmenu of all nations in ..^4- /diplomatic relations with our own an invitation to appoint delegates to meet 5 delegates from the United States in the city of Washington, at such~tinie as f) he may seem fit to designate, for the purpose of fixing upon a meridian '^^v'^roper to be employed as a common zero of longtitude and standard of ,,8 . tim€-reckoning throughout the globe ; and that the President be authorized 9 to appoint delegates, not exceeding five in number, to represent the United 10 States in such international conference. Passed the House of Representatives July 6, 1882. Attest : EWD. McPHERSON, Clerk Note- While thaae papers are passinjr through the Press, infomiation'has been received that the resolution was carried in the Scnate'of the L'nited States, on July 3 1st, without amendment, and was then iii the hands of the enrollinjf JCommittee. The International Conference for.the determination of a common prime meridian, has now received the high authority of the Parliament of the United States. 1