66 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



To attain the end propoesd by this society, the papers bearing on 

 the question were printed, and a scheme modified on the proceedings 

 of the Canadian Institute was drawn up, under the title of " Cos- 

 mopolitan scheme for regulating time." 



I may briefly recall the features of the scheme. 



There should be one standard of absolute time, a Universal Day, 

 based on the mean solar passage, at one particular meridian, the 

 Prime or initial meridian for computing longitude. This Prime 

 Meridian, together with the universal day, to be observed by all 

 civilized nations. 



There should be 24 secondary or hour meridians established,- 

 1 5 degrees of longitude apart, beginning with the Prime Meridian as 

 zero. 



To distinguish the universal day from local time, it should bear 

 the title of " Cosmic Day." 



[Note. — -I maj- remark, that the designation "Cosmic" was first suggested,, 

 independently, by two Canadian gentlemen widely separated, by Mr. E,. G. 

 Halliburton, then in Algiers, and by Mr. Thomas Hector, of Ottawa, The 

 etymology commends the use of the word. It has been accepted by a number 

 of societies and by many individuals as appropriate and applicable.] 



Cosmic time is intended to be used to promote exactness in chron- 

 ology, and to be employed in astronomy, navigation, metrology and 

 - in synchronous observations throughout the world. To be employed 

 in ocean telegraphy and generally in all operations non-local in 

 character. 



The several twenty-four meridian to be used as standards local 

 time around the globe. Applying the system to North America, the 

 effect would be to reduce tbe standards to four or five, as suggested 

 by the metrological society, 



A circular, dated March IStli, 1882, signed by Mr. John Bogart,- 

 the Secretary of the American Society of Civil Engineers, was for- 

 warded to the leading men in railway direction, either as general 

 managers, superintendents or engineers, and to men of scientific attain- 

 ments throughout the United States and Canada. The papers thus 

 circulated contained eleven questions, and catagorical replies were 

 invited to them. 



Rej^lies were received and reported on at a convention of the 

 society, held in Washington on the 17th May, 1882. The scheme 

 submitted was genei'ally and cordially approved. 



