i82 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



double hands before described, this Washington noon signal may be 

 used to control a clock by the Bain or some other system in a house, 

 or manufactory, or railway-station, and a general acceptance of Wash- 

 ington (or any other) standard time by which to regulate the running 

 of railway-trains or other affairs is rendered easy and safe if it is de- 

 sirable to make this change. 



The advantages of a general use of this system are very great, and 

 will be evident on a slight considei-ation. The arrangements pro- 

 posed by the Naval Observatory are not intended to conilict, and 

 they do not conflict, with others more local adopted and success- 

 fully carried on by various observatories. 



Among these, the more prominent are the Harvard College Obser- 

 vatory, which, under the direction of the late Prof. Winlock, insti- 

 tuted a system of time-distribution to the various railways of Boston 

 and vicinity, which has been for some years in successful operation : 

 the Allegheny Observatory, of Pittsburg, which, under its director, 

 Prof. Langley, has also for some years furnished standard time to the 

 Pennsylvania and other railways; as well as the observatories of Cin- 

 cinnati, Albany, and others. 



The cooperation of all these institutions will undoubtedly result 

 in providing for a more extensive and better-organized system than 

 has hitherto been possible, and some of the benefits to be derived 

 from such a cooperation have been pointed out. The establishment 

 of time-balls at our various seaports, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, 

 Norfolk,' Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, etc., is most important, 

 and insurance companies, shippers, and owners of vessels, could well 

 afford to bear the small necessary expense, which would be more than 

 repaid to them by the additional safety given to navigation. 



The extension of a system such as exists in New York to the 

 various seaports of the country could not but secure a greater safety 

 to sea-going vessels and an increased security to the traveling public, 

 two objects worthy of all attention. 



' Time guns or balls, at Hampton Roads and the Delaware Breakwater, are peculiarly 

 demanded by commerce, but would have to be supported by underwriters and shippers, 

 as there will be little demand for them from the neighboring population. 



A time-gun at Hampton Roads would be used by all vessels proceeding on long voy- 

 ages from Baltimore, the Potomac, and Richmond, and by the large number of ships 

 calling at Hampton Roads for orders where to carry their cargoes. It would be particu- 

 larly valuable to ships using this roadstead as a harbor of refuge on their voyages, which 

 ships at present seldom or never wait for fair weather to rate their chronometers, but, 

 on the first appearance of settled weather, slip out to sea to continue their voyages. 



