64 UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC TIME, 
expressed in the resolutions. Without deciding, the Committee 
desires to draw attention to the proposition of the American Dele- 
gates that the proposed International Commission should meet at 
Washington. 
REMARKS ON THE COSMOPOLITAN SCHEME FOR REGULATING 
TIME. 
By Proressor Simon Newcomp, Superintendent of Nautical Almanac, 
Washington, 1882. 
A capital plan for use during the millennium. Too perfect for 
the present state of humanity. See no more reason for considering 
Europe in the matter than for considering the inhabitants of the 
planet Mars. 
No; we don’t care for other nations, can’t help them, and they 
can’t help us. 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ITALIAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. 
Examination of the scheme of Time reform; from the work of M. Ferdinando 
Borsari, 1883. 
(TRANSLATION. ) 
Is Universal Time possible ?* 
The question of the choice of a Cosmopolitan Meridian being de- 
termined, it remains to be seen to what extent it may be possible to 
carry into effect in different countries the propositions of Mr, Sand- 
ford Fleming and of the other Americans interested in the introduc- 
tion of the system of Cosmic Time and of twenty-four different 
systems of local Time, each in succession differing from the other by 
one hour. 
The form given to this proposition, moreover, the very extraordi- 
nary clearness with which it has been set forth (see Part IT.), is 
marked by much logic, so that a profitable and well-considered 
investigation of it may be held. Nevertheless, there is strong reason 
why we should not deceive ourselves as to the difficulties to be over- 
come. ‘The idea relative to the introduction of the one Time in all 
countries will need a long period to popularize it in Europe, and to 
enter, so to say, into the convictions of the majority ; and many of 
the propositions of Mr. Sandford Fleming (above all, that relative to 
local Time,) will perhaps encounter much insurmountable difficulty 
from the inhabitants of different countries, besides striking against 
several national traditions. 
In our opinion, the most serious obstacle consists in the fact that 
there is no means in the different countries to bring Cosmopolitan 
* Extracts from I] Meridiano Miziale e L’Ora Universale, Studio di Ferdinando Borsari Socio 
a vita della Societa Geografica Italiana, Direttore della rassegna geografica a L’Esplorazione. 
Napoli, 1883. (Page 62.) : 
