122 TIME-RECKONING. 
the clocks and watches in use valueless. But the remedy is simple, 
as local time may be retained and indicated side by side with cosmo- 
politan time by altering the dial plates or substituting new ones. 
The establishment of twenty-four fixed meridians, as proposed, at 
one hour’s distance from each other, as standards for local time, 
would secure complete uniformity in the indication of the minutes 
in all the clocks of the world ; the hours of local time only differing. 
Appendix No. 3 illustrates this feature ; it shows simultaneous time 
at each of the twenty-four standard meridians ; local time varying 
one hour in each case ; cosmopolitan time remaining constant. 
In this communication I have endeavoured to submit the incon- 
veniences and difficulties inseparable from our present mode of 
reckoning dates, and from our system of keeping and noting smaller 
divisions of time. I have referred to the various usages and customs 
which prevail, and I have drawn special attention to the fact that the 
application of steam to locomotion by land and sea, and of electricity 
to the telegraph, literally without limit, has rendered the present 
practice of reckoning time ill suited to modern life. 
It cannot be supposed that these agents of progress have com- 
pleted their mission. We may rather assume that these extraor- 
dinary powers have but commenced their wonderful career, and that 
they will achieve further triumphs in civilization. 
It is in America these agents have been introduced to the greatest 
relative extent, as the subjoined estimate of the length of railways 
constructed will show : 
PopPpuLATION. MILES OF RAILWAY. 
INGOs, SoA OEE OA. 00 2 824,548,500 7,643 
OTRO Os AN Ga CHO URE SooUCQ 00S 309, 178, 300 88,748 
PARTE Cay «<n ie ioninjsve. 078 ots ©.», 4.0.8 Shere, fe ERR 199,921,600 1,451 
INeranGuss America...... 2.0. seen 85,519,800 83,655 
PATIStralasiat oe cictcticis och sles Soe 4,748,600 1,752 
Totalsecnt 1,423,917,800 183,248 
It has been suggested, that the difficulties already met in portions 
of America threaten to become increased as the railway system is 
extended. It may therefore be assumed, that any practicable scheme 
to effect a remedy would be favourably received. The importance of 
the subject is not confined to America, for the other quarters of the 
globe are now or will be similarly interested. Australia and Africa 
will before long be pierced, perhaps girdled, by railways. Asia, with 
more than half the population of the world, must in due time follow 
in the general progress. In North and South America, there is room 
