Chapter I: Front Matter

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.

Page

I. Protocol, October 1, 1884 1

II. Protocol, October 2, 1884 13

III. Protocol, October 6, 1884 35

IV. Protocol, October 13, 1884 73

V. Protocol, October 14, 1884 113

VI. Protocol, October 20, 1884 151

VII. Protocol, October 22, 1884 195

VIII. Protocol, November 1, 1884 205

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--