SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS, 87 
to establish precision of time and to define motion in given periods, 
least of all requires such an accord. The explanation lies in the 
fact that astronomers, besides being accustomed to reduce to a com- 
mon measure of Time, different places and the different observations 
made, are always in the position more easily so to reduce such obser- 
vations than the representatives of other sciences, who have to deal 
only occasionally with Time and matters of Longitude. Tt must not, 
however, fail to be recognized that also for astronomy, benefit would 
arrive if the astronomers scattered over the earth’s surface would 
make it a law among themselves for certain observations in the mat- 
ter of Time to be referred to one and the same Meridian. 
Applied to navigation, as can be well understood, the question 
enters into practical life. But the navigator, like the astronomer, 
has continually to consider the principle “of difference of Time, and 
hence a law relative to the Unification of Time notation is of less 
relative significance to him. Whereas in other respects uniformity in 
the delineation of geographical Longitudes upon sea charts, and in 
the register of geographical sites, would be of substantial use, as well 
for the safety of navigation as for convenience in calculation. 
In the matter of telegraphs it would principally be their adminis- 
tration which would derive advantages from one Time notation for 
the whole world. If despatches be solely sent as desired, according 
to Local or to Normal Time described, so sharp control ean scarcely 
be exercised over delays or other hindrances, without repeated 
inquiries to and fro. By the general application of Universal Time, 
difficulties in this respect would be reduced considerably. Thus also 
the great body of the public would be a gainer, for then everybody 
would be in the position to know with certainty when the despatch 
in question was delivered ; a circumstance which may be of the 
greatest importance in many eases, as well in commercial relations 
as in many other questions of civie life. 
With regard to railway-communication, it is possible to mtroduce 
Standard Time to be observed within the territory of a single 
country, or to groups of countries bound together by close relations, 
by which the administration of the lines, and the movements of 
trains may be regulated ; while with regard to the public, the Time 
to be exhibited can still ‘adhere to the Time by which every day life 
is regulated, be it Local or Standard Time. Such has already been 
the case for some time in many countries, and has undoubtedly been 
attended with great advantages to the interior channels of communi- 
cation. Thus with us in Russia, an ordinance has been in operation 
for some time, by virtue of which the movements upon all railways 
should be governed by Pultowa Time, and on some lines, at least, it 
is in force. On other lines which have been constructed at a later 
date, this ordinance has been departed from, and in different ways 
. the movement has been regulated by the local Time of one of the 
