RECKONING FOR THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. 53 
sible with existing customs, it will result in giving to the human family around the globe 
concurrent dates, and in making every division of time uniform the world over. 
In the adoption of the new system, temporary inconvenience may arise, but it will be 
trifling in extent and not of long duration ; and any momentary disadvantage should not 
be allowed to weigh against the benefits to be secured to mankind for all future ages. 
On the night of November 18th, 1883, a noiseless revolution was effected throughout 
the United States and Canada. The hands of the clocks of some fifty millions of people 
were for the most part moved forward or backward in order to indicate the time of one of 
the five hour zones. The time now observed from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific varies 
with Cosmic Time according to situation from four to eight whole hours. In North 
America therefore, the portion of the problem yet to be adjusted is easy of solution. As 
the minutes and seconds are already everywhere in agreement, the transition to universal 
uniformity of reckoning can be effected simply and with ease. It will only be necessary 
to move forward the dial hands of the clocks an even number of hours, varying from four 
to eight as each case may require, to bring the Continent into complete accord with the 
time of the world. 
When eventually it may become necessary to bring the time throughout all parts of 
North America to the world’s standard, the transition may be effected by adjusting the 
clocks as follows :— 
I.— Cocks 1N THE Hour Zones or THE West MERIDIANS. 
Meripian West. : Hours. 
60° } ( 4 
75° | 5 
QU SE Sodeson will have to be moved forward ....... 1 6 
105° | fi 
12020) lees 
Similarly wherever the scheme of hour meridians be adopted, the common reckoning 
may with equal ease be secured. To the west of the prime meridian, the clocks will 
require to be moved forward, to the east backward. In Europe, Asia and Africa the 
change would thus be effected :— 
II.—CLocxs 1N rue Hour Zones or rxe East MERIDIANS. 
MeriprAN East. Hours. 
15° ) pui 
30° | | 2 
45° 3 
60° f de will have to be moved backward...... 1 4 
75° | | 5 
90° J (ONG 
Thus for example, New Orleans in the hour zone of the 90th meridian west would 
have its clocks advanced six hours, while Calcutta in the 90th meridian east would 
have its clocks retarded six hours. By the same simple process of transition, every city 
and district on the surface of the globe may be brought to the one common time- 
reckoning. 
