Description Standard Time

"Standard Time

The Eastern standard time is now in use on the Intercolonial and N.S. Railways, it having been put into operation on last Monday. For the information of our readers we will endeavor to explain as simple as possible the meaning of the change. The Continent is divided into five portions, each consisting of 15 deg. of longitude, the starting point to be at 60 deg. West of Greenwich, touching at or near the most eastern portion of Cape Breton, and extending 7.5 degs. East and West. The Western boundary of the division terminating about Fredericton which will be entitled the Intercolonial division. The next will extend to the 82.5 deg. which is near Detroit, and will be called the Eastern. The third division will go to 87.5 deg. and will run near Winnipeg, and termed the Central. The next extending to 112.5 deg. will be known as the Mountain, and the fifth which goes beyond 112.5 deg. will be named the Pacific. The object the promoters of this time have in view is the removal of the difficulties attending the variations in the local time, and adopting one kind of time which would be suitable to all. For instance if on departing from any point we set our watch at standard time we will find it correct within the limits of the division, but on crossing the line we find the time there to be one hour earlier, while our minute hand is on correct time. We have simply to remember that we have passed into another section of 15 deg., and so on through all the five divisions of the Continent, and each of these divisions makes a difference of one house earlier as we go west, while the minute hand is correct throughout the whole journey. The benefits to travellers in this simple and yet comprehensive plan will be readily seen, and to those who business requires them to be on the rail a great part of their time it must be invaluable. It will be observed that the I.C.R. and N.S.R.R. have not adopted the time of this district, but of the district ling immediately to the west of us. If these Maritime Provinces adopt the standard time of their proper division our time will be exactly one house fast of Railway time. Consequently it strikes us as unfortunate that the Railways have gone out of their proper divisions."