Trajis. N. V. Ac. Sa\ 9i) Jan. i6, 



W/icreas, Since the creation of a vast system of artificial lines of 

 rapid transit and telegraphic communication, ex'end'ng through wide 

 differences of longitude upon both continents, great confusion in time 

 reckoning has arisen in consequence of the use, throughout the same 

 distticts of country, of the differing times of many local meridians; 

 and. 



Whereas, The actual time in use at any place is generally arbitrary 

 and at variance, often by many minutes, with the true local time of 

 such place ; and, 



Whereas, Such differences between true and arbitrary time are in 

 no way practically disadvantageous in the affairs of life, when univers- 

 ally understood and observed ; and, 



Whereas, It is practicable, by referring the times of all places on the 

 globe to a limited number ot meridians suitably chosen, to create a 

 time-system for the world, so nearly uniform that the minute and the 

 second shall everywhere the same, and the times of places widely diff- 

 ering in longitude shall differ only by entire hours — a system ot great 

 simplicity and likely to be conducive to the convenience of all man- 

 kind ; therefore, 



Resolved, That this Association approves and recommends to the 

 favorable consideration of the governments of all nations, as well as tO' 

 all scientific associations, chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and 

 telegraphic and transportation companies, a time-system for the world, 

 founded on the following principles: 



1. Twenty-four standard meridians to be fixed upon, distant from 

 each other fifteen degrees, or one hour each, in longitude, to which, and 

 to which only, the arbitrary local times kept at all places on the earth's 

 surface shall be referred. 



2. The prime meridian, or that by reference to which the positions 

 of all the remaining one-hour meridians are to be determined, to be 

 the meridian situated in longitude one hundred and eighty degrees, or 

 twelve hours, distant from the meridian of Greenwich, which prime 

 meridian passes near Behring's Strait and lies almost wholly on the 

 ocean. 



3. The diurnal change of count in the monthly calendar to begin 

 when it is midnight on this prime meridian, and the same change ta 

 take place lor the several meridians successively, until the circuit of 

 the globe has been completed from east to west. 



4. The hour of the day at any place to be regulated bv the standard 

 meridian nearest such place in longitude, it being reckoned as twelve 

 o'clock, noon, at the moment the mean sun passes such standard meri- 

 dian. The minute and second to* be the same at all times and for all 

 places throughout the earth. 



