INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

HELD AT WASHINGTON

FOR THE PURPOSE OF FIXING

A PRIME MERIDIAN

AND

A UNIVERSAL DAY.

OCTOBER, 1884.

PROTOCOLS OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

WASHINGTON, D. C.
Gibson Bros., Printers and Bookbinders.
1884.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

1. Protocol, October 1, 1884 1
2. Protocol, October 2, 1884 13
3. Protocol, October 6, 1884 35
4. Protocol, October 13, 1884 73
5. Protocol, October 14, 1884 113
6. Protocol, October 20, 1884 151
7. Protocol, October 22, 1884 195
8. Protocol, November 1, 1884 205
9. Final Act 199

   Act of Congress authorizing the President of the United States to invite the Conference (Annex I) 209

   Act of Congress making appropriation for expenses (Annex II) 209

   Circular to United States representatives abroad bringing the subject to the attention of foreign governments (Annex III) 210

   Circular to United States ministers extending invitation to foreign governments (Annex IV) 211

International Meridian Conference

HELD IN THE

CITY OF WASHINGTON.

I.

SESSION OF OCTOBER 1, 1884.

The Delegates to the International Meridian Conference, who assembled in Washington upon invitation addressed by the Government of the United States to all nations holding diplomatic relations with it, "for the purpose of fixing upon a meridian proper to be employed as a common zero of longitude and standard of time-reckoning throughout the globe," held their first conference to-day, October 1, 1884, in the Diplomatic Hall of the Department of State.

The following delegates were present:

On behalf of Austria-Hungary—

Baron Ignatz von Schæffer,

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

On behalf of Brazil—

Dr. Luiz Cruls,

Director of the Imperial Observatory of Rio Janeiro.

On behalf of Colombia—

Commodore S. R. Franklin, U. S. Navy,

Superintendent U. S. Naval Observatory.

On behalf of Costa Rica—

Mr. Juan Francisco Echeverria,

Civil Engineer.

On behalf of France—

Mr. A. Lefaivre,

Minister Plenipotentiary and Consul-General.

Mr. Janssen, of the Institute,

Director of the Physical Observatory of Paris.

On behalf of Germany—

Baron H. Von Alvensleben,

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

On behalf of Great Britain—

Captain Sir F. J. O. Evans,

Royal Navy.

Prof. J. C. Adams,

Director of the Cambridge Observatory.

Lieut.-General Strachey,

Member of the Council of India.

Mr. Sandford Fleming,

Representing the Dominion of Canada.

On behalf of Guatemala—

M. Miles Rock,

President of the Boundary Commission.

On behalf of Hawaii—

Hon. W. D. Alexander,

Surveyor-General.

Hon. Luther Aholo,