1890-91. J REFORMS IN TIME RECKONISG. 139 



25 minutes, 30 seconds, in the eleventh zone it will be 5 hours, 25 

 minutes, 30 seconds, in the twelfth zone 4 hours, 25 minutes, 30 seconds, 

 and so on, each successive zone differing in its notation by an exact 

 hour. Thus it will be clear that the system is based on the one reckoning, 

 according to a common standard of measurement and reference. The 

 only departure from complete uniformity will be found in the nomen- 

 clature of the hours; but the numbers of the hours being governed by the 

 numbers of the hour meridians, reference to the common standard will 

 at all times be simple and direct. 



The relationship established by this system, between the reckoning in 

 each zone or section of the globe, and the world's standard, may for con- 

 venience be reduced to the following simple formula : 

 Let H be the number of the hour meredian, then 



(i) In the zone of hour meridian 12 (corresponding with the 

 meridian of Greenwich) the notation of the hours will 

 agree with the world's standard. 



(2) In all East Longitudes (zones to the east of hour meridian 



12) the notation will be in advance of the world's standard. 

 Hours FASTER=I2 — H. 



(3) In all West Longitudes fzones to the west of hour meridian 

 • 12) the notation will be behind the world's standard. 



Hours SLOWER =H — 12. 



The number distinguishing an hour meridian will be the key to the 

 notation in the zone of that meridian. The world's standard will be the 

 mean of all possible zone notations. 



The hour zone system has now been in use throughout North America 

 for seven years, and in the Japanese Empire for two years. In England, 

 Scotland, and Sweden, the reckoning is in accord with this system. In 

 Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Belgium, by all accounts it is on the 

 eve of adoption. Wherever it has been adopted, it has resulted in giving 

 the greatest satisfaction ; the hours recorded by the clocks are every- 

 where indicated at the same moment ; the only difference is in the num- 

 ber by which they are distinguished in the several zones, with that simple 

 exception, minutes, seconds, and every sub-division of time are syn- 

 chronous. 



Another important, although secondary, reform in regulating the 

 reckoning of time throughout the world, is to abandon the division of 

 the day into halves, these halves being sub-divided into separate sets of 

 hours, known as ante meridian and post meridian. The proposal is to 

 follow the recommendation of the Washington Conference with respect 



