With regard to the more immediate question, I have come to the firm conviction that extreme simplicity of reckoning and corresponding benefits would result if longitude be notated in the same manner, and denoted by the same terms as universal time.  If, therefore, the Conference adopts the motion of the distinguished Delegate of the United States, which, I apprehend, is designed to cause as little change as possible in the practices of sea-faring men, I trust the claims of other important interests will not be overlooked.  I refer to all those interests, so deeply concerned in securing accurate time on land, and in having easy means provided for translating any one local reckoning into any other local reckoning, or into the standard universal time.  In this view I trust the Conference will give some expression of opinion in favor of extending around the globe the system of hour meridians which has proved so advantageous in North America.  In an educational aspect alone it seems to me important that the hour meridians, one to twenty-four, numbered from the anti-prime meridian continuously toward the west, should be conspicuously marked on our maps and charts.

Prof.  ADAMS, Delegate of Great Britain.  I wish, Mr. President, to express my entire adhesion to the proposition which has been made by the Delegate of the United States, Mr. RUTHERFURD.  It seems to me to satisfy one of the principal conditions that we have had before us to guide our decision; that is, that we should pursue a course which will produce the least possible inconvenience.

Now, I think if we keep that in mind, we shall have very little difficulty in coming to the conclusion that we should reckon longitude eastward, as positive or plus, and westward as negative or minus.  This mode of reckoning would be attended with the least inconvenience; in fact, it will not be attended with any inconvenience at all, because it will keep to the present mode of reckoning.  For my part, I see no adequate reason for changing that.  There is no scientific reason, and certainly there is no practical reason.  There is no scientific reason, because, as I stated yesterday, if in mathematics you measure from the zero a distance in one direction and consider that positive, you must, by the very nature of the case, consider the distance measured in the opposite direction from the same zero as negative.  One follows mathematically and necessarily from the other, and by adopting this resolution you thus include both in one general formula.

It seems to me quite as scientific, to say the least, to start from zero and go in both directions, distinguishing the longitudes by the signs plus and minus, according as the directions are taken east or west, as to reckon longitudes in one direction only from zero to 360 degrees.  It is, I say, just as scientific to do this, and practically it is more convenient.  Because if you go on reckoning from zero to 360 degrees continuously, you have to make a break at 360 degrees.