EIGHTH ORDINARY MEETING. 67 
An emphatic and unanimous opinion was expressed, that there 
should be established as early as possible a comprehensive system of 
Standard Time for North America. 
Of those who replied to the queries, ninety-five per cent. favoured 
the idea that there should be a common agreement between: the 
standards of time in all countries. That while we must primarily 
look to our own convenience on this continent, it is proper to aim 
at eventually attaining general uniformity among all nations. 
Seventy-six per cent. were in favour of reducing the standards in 
North America so that they would differ only by intervals of one 
hour, and ninety-two per cent. were in favour of a notation of the 
hours of the day in a single series from 1 to 24, instead of in two 
divisions each of twelve hours. 
The character of the replies received indicated that a remarkable 
unanimity of opinion prevailed in every section of the continent 
heard from. The Convention accordingly resolved that an attempt 
should be made to obtain European concurrence to the selection of a 
Prime Meridian on which a time system could be definitely based. 
But, failing to obtain this recognition, the people of the Western 
Continent should determine a zero meridian for their own use and 
guidance. 
It was thereupon resolved to petition the Congress of the United 
States to take the matter into consideration. The American Metro- 
ological Society about the same time adopted a similar proceeding. 
The consequences were that a Joint-Resolution of the House of Re- 
presentatives and the Senate was passed authorizing the President 
of the United States to call an International Conference to fix on 
and recommend for universal adoption a common Prime Meridian 
to be used in the reckoning of longitude and in the regulation of 
time throughout the world. 
On the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement 
of Science in Montreal, in July, 1882, the subject was brought for- 
ward, and all the documents were submitted and discussed. It was 
agreed that the Association should co-operate with other, bodies in 
furtherance of the movement. 
On two occasions the Royal Society of Canada has had its atten- 
tion directed to the matter, and this body has assisted in furthering 
the determination of the problem by its co-operation and by cor- 
respondence with the Government. 
