NEW TIME-RECKONING. 355 



known as ante and post meridian, and to accept the numeration of the 

 hours in one series, from midnif^ht to midnight, these managers having 

 under their control some C0,000 miles of railway. 



^' During the past year the seed sown has been fructifying, and many 

 who held back have been won over and have given their adhesion to 

 the movement. Among the many important railways ready to co-oper- 

 ate, some apiiear to see no necessity for farther delay-, and desire to se- 

 cure at once the advantages which will result from the change. At this 

 date it is publicly announced that the Canadian Pacific Eailway Com- 

 pany have determined to adoj^t the 24 hour system, and are actually 

 preparing to make the change at an early day.* Such proceedings can 

 be accepted as indicating a proper apjireciation of the reform which the 

 American Society of Civil Engineers has advocated, and equally shows 

 the discernment of those who direct the management of the youngest 

 of the transcontinental railways. This practical commencement will, 

 without a doubt, be speedily followed by other railway companies, and 

 before long we may look for the 24-hour system coming into general use.t 



There is undoubtedly a growing feeling in many quarters in favor of 

 the 24-hour system. It is reported to be used with great advantage on 

 the whole of the cables and other lines of the Eastern Telegraph Com- 

 pany, and its connections extending from England through Europe and 

 the Mediterranean to Egypt, and from Egypt to South Africa, India, 

 China, and Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. 



It is a pertinent question to ask, what influence these various changes 

 will have in i)reparing the public mind for another, and it may be said 

 a final, change— the adoption of one uniform time in every longitude! 

 For it must be evident to the thoughtful observer that the movement 



* At midsummer, 1886, the Canadian Pacific Eailway was opened from the AtlaiiTlic 

 to the Pacific and the 24-hour system went into force in running " through" trains. 

 The example set by the railway company has been followed in the towns and villages 

 along the line, and the inhabitants generally having experienced the advantages of 

 the change, no desire is expressed in any quarter to return to the old usage, 



tThe following foot-note is added: " It is proposed to adapt clocks and watches 

 now in use to the change, by having inscribed on the existing dials the new numbers 

 of the afternoon hours —thirteen to twenty-four (13 to 24) inclusive. The only prac- 

 tical difficulty to be overcome is met by the simple expedient of placing on the face 

 of the watch or clock a supplementary dial, showing the new afternoon hours in 

 Arabic numerals within the present Roman figures. The supplementary dial must 

 be of thin material, and it has been found that, by being made simply of paper and 

 secured to its position by any gum which will adhere to an enammeled surface, the ob- 

 ject is attained without any further alteration of the watch or clock. The committee is 

 aware that these seem trifling matters to bring under the notice of the convention, 

 but questions of great moment not seldom hinge on small details. It is evident, from 

 what has been set forth, that every person in the community may, at the cost of a few 

 cents in each case, adapt his watch to tile 24-hour system. The committee accord- 

 ingly repeat their conviction that, with the disappearance of the only practical diffi- 

 culty at an insignificant cost, there is nothing to prevent the railway authorities and 

 the community at large adopting the change as soon as they become alive to its ad- 

 vantages."— Report of the Buff'alo Convention of the American Society of Civil Eij- 

 gineer^. ' 



