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1935 photograph of Robert Garland, Pittsburgh City Councilman (City Council President in 1934) and business leader, considered the "Father of Daylight Saving Time". (Image Sources: Archives and Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System and WPXI-TV 11, Pittsburgh)
By Glenn A. Walsh
Reporting for SpaceWatchtower
This is the time when most Americans
will be advancing their clocks by one hour (except for computerized
clocks which advance automatically) in the annual “Spring-Forward”
exercise to accommodate Daylight Saving Time, in 48 of America's 50
states. However, several states are considering abandoning Daylight
Saving Time, while a few states are even considering moving to a
different time-zone, year-round! And, the Federal Government is,
again, studying the question of Daylight Saving Time.
The change from Standard Time to
Daylight Saving Time officially occurs on Sunday, 2022 March 13, at
2:00 a.m. Local Prevailing Time, that is Standard Time in the
respective time zone. Official time then becomes 3:00 a.m. Daylight
Saving Time for the respective time zone.
This is almost
exactly a week before the Vernal Equinox, the beginning of the season
of Spring on Sunday. 2022 March 20 at 11:33 a.m. Eastern Daylight
Saving Time (EDT) / 15:33 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Also,
note that, officially, there is no letter “s” after the
letter “g” in the word “Saving”, when used in “Daylight
Saving Time”.
In many cases, people will advance
their clocks by one hour before going to bed Saturday night, unless
they choose to advance their clocks as soon as they rise from bed
Sunday morning. And, there are always some who forget (and who may be
late to church) or procrastinate and need to change their clocks once
they remember later on Sunday.
Today, often computers, digital
wrist-watches, portable and mobile telephones, video cassette
recorders, and so-called "atomic" clocks [clocks which receive radio signals calibrated by atomic clocks operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology via their radio station WWVB (LW)] will automatically switch between Standard Time and
Daylight Saving Time. However, if the digital device was manufactured
before 2007, the device may make the switch on the wrong dates—that
is, the dates which were the authorized time conversion dates before the
law was changed in 2007.
Since 2007, the last time the law
changed, clocks in America have advanced an hour on the second Sunday
of March (previously, the first Sunday in April) and returned
("Fall-Back") to Standard Time on the first Sunday in
November (previously, the last Sunday in October). This year, clocks
will return to Standard Time on Sunday, 2022 November 6, when 2:00
a.m. Daylight Saving Time will become 1:00 a.m. Standard Time.
The
states of Hawaii and Arizona do not observe Daylight Saving Time,
except for some Native American nation reservations in Arizona.
Until 2006 April 2, most of the state of
Indiana also did not observe Daylight Saving Time. However, there was
confusion when certain counties in the state decided to accept
Daylight Saving Time. The state legislature put an end to the
confusion when a 2005 bill passed ensuring that all Indiana counties
would observe Daylight Saving Time, regardless of whether the county
was in the Eastern or Central time zone.
Several American territories also do
not observe Daylight Saving Time. This includes the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico (actually located in the Atlantic Time Zone),
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands of the
United States, American Samoa, and Guam.
March 13 is also the conclusion to the
annual National Sleep Awareness Week. Sponsored by the National Sleep
Foundation, this week highlights the importance of people getting
enough sleep each night. And, this is particularly important when the
last day of this week occurs on the day clocks are advanced an hour,
with the possibility that people may lose an hour of sleep if they do
not plan for getting an additional hour of sleep that night.
And, it is strongly suggested to use
the twice-a-year time change to check, and possibly replace,
batteries in vital warning instruments such as smoke / fire detectors
/ alarms, carbon monoxide (CO) detectors / alarms, and NOAA Weather /
Hazard Alarm Radios (and / or other portable, transistor radios used
to obtain weather broadcasts and other emergency news and
information).
Although it may seem odd to have such
an official time change occur at an hour when most people are asleep,
there is a logical reason for the 2:00 time for the change to occur.
With fewer people awake, and few important events occurring at 2:00
in the morning, this time change can happen fairly seamlessly, with
no major activities being adversely affected. Although 12:00 Midnight
may seem like a more logical time for such a change, more people are
awake, and more activities are still happening, at Midnight,
particularly on a Saturday night / Sunday morning.
Brief History of Daylight Saving
Time
Instigated by the railroads to simplify
passenger schedules and avoid governmental regulation, five American
and Canadian time zones were established on Sunday, 1883 November 18
at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time. Technological advances of the era, such
as the telegraph and the transit-telescope, allowed Pittsburgh's
Allegheny Observatory to provide the railroads with precise time for
the new time zones. The “Allegheny Time” system, developed by
Allegheny Observatory Director Samuel Pierpont Langley in 1869, was
the first regular and systematic system of time distribution to
railroads and cities; within a year, Allegheny Time extended over
2,500 miles to 300 telegraph offices.
However, time zones are fairly large,
meaning that sunrise and sunset occurs at significantly different
times for a town on the eastern edge of a time zone and one on the
western edge of the same time zone. In the early 20th
century, some people wanted to provide more daylight in the evening
hours during the Summer months and proposed to advance all clocks by
one hour for “Daylight Saving Time.”
Actually, changing daily habits to take
advantage of more daylight during the Summer months was first
proposed by Pennsylvania's Benjamin Franklin in 1784, while he was a
diplomat in Paris. In an anonymous letter that was published, he used
satire to suggest that it would be better to use the sunlight of the
morning rather than to waste candles in the evening. Although, it
should be noted that he did not actually propose a plan similar to
the Daylight Saving Time we know today.
Robert Garland, a Pittsburgh
industrialist and a member of the Pittsburgh City Council for 28
years (1911 to 1939), is considered the “Father of Daylight
Saving,” as he chaired the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's national
“Special Committee on Daylight Saving.” He fought hard for the
establishment of Summer Daylight Saving Time.
It was not until 1918, shortly after
the United States entered World War I, that U.S. President Woodrow
Wilson instituted the Daylight Saving plan to help the War effort.
However farmers, who use sunrise and sunset cycles to care for their
crops and farm animals, hated Daylight Saving Time.
Spurned by farmers and other
agricultural interests, the U.S. Congress repealed the Daylight
Saving Time plan seven months later. However, several cities
including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City
continued using Daylight Saving Time during the Summer months.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
resurrected Daylight Saving Time as “War Time” for the duration
of World War II. However, after the War, Daylight Saving Time did not
become Federal law during peace time until the Uniform Time Act of
1966 was enacted. Hawaii never observed Daylight Saving Time while
Arizona (except some tribal nations in the state) opted-out in 1968.
Most of Indiana did not observe Daylight Saving Time until 2006; now
the entire state observes it.
To reduce energy consumption during the
Arab Oil Embargo of 1973, year-round Daylight Saving Time was
established in the United States beginning on 1974 January 6.
However, many mothers were quite upset that this meant that their
children had to travel to school, or wait for the school bus, during
the dark early mornings in the Winter months. Thousands of these
mothers (including the author's mother, Eleanor A. Walsh) wrote
letters to their representatives in Congress complaining about this.
After receiving thousands of letters from angry mothers, Congress did
not renew year-round Daylight Saving Time, and this plan expired on
1975 February 23.
The start and end dates for Daylight
Saving Time have varied, over the decades, as the U.S. Congress tried
to find the correct balance for the time change. The most recent
change came in 2007, when the start time for Daylight Saving Time was
moved to the second Sunday in March. The end date was also moved, to
the first Sunday in November. The November date was chosen to provide
a little more daylight in the evening for trick-or-treating children
on Halloween. Had Congress delayed the end of Daylight Saving Time
one more week, to the second Sunday in November, this could have
allowed a little more daylight in the evening, each year, for people
traveling to the election polls on the General Election Day
(scheduled for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November,
each year); with the current system, only occasionally will General
Election Day occur before the return to Standard Time.
The Future of Daylight Saving Time ?
Now, several states have proposed ending Daylight Saving
Time altogether. And, there are even some states such as Alaska and
some New England states which wish to join a different time zone,
along with eliminating Daylight Saving Time.
Several New England states are
considering seceding from the Eastern Time Zone to the Atlantic Time
Zone, which is currently used by most of the Maritime Provinces of
Canada as well as the American Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. By
moving to the Atlantic Time Zone, these states would be observing the
equivalent of Eastern Daylight Saving Time, year-round.
Connecticut, which is home to a lot of
people who commute each weekday to New York City, would probably stay
in the Eastern Time Zone along with New York State.
And, Alaska is considering moving to
the Pacific Time Zone, abandoning its own Alaska Time Zone. As in New
England, this would have the effect of having Alaska Daylight Saving
Time year-round in Alaska. Of course the Alaska Time Zone would
remain, as one of the world's 24 time zones, but it is unclear what
it would be called if Alaska moved to the Pacific Time Zone.
This-past Wednesday (2022 March 9), the U.S. House
of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Consumer
Protection, held a public hearing on the annual “Spring-Forward /
Fall-Back” ritual. While most people testified against the annual
twice-a-year time change, there was no consensus regarding what
action should be taken. Some people wanted year-round Daylight Saving Time, while others prefer year-round Standard Time. After the hearing, Committee Chair Rep. Frank
Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) requested the U.S. Department of Transportation,
which enforces the 1966 Federal Uniform Time Act, provide an analysis
of the annual time changes (analysis originally requested by Congress in 2018,
but never issued).
Many of the advocates of ending
Daylight Saving Time cite several studies that show that advancing
the clock adversely affects people's health, including more heart
attacks, traffic accidents, and workplace injuries. Economists say
that there is no real economic reason for Daylight Saving Time, save
for the possible reduction in energy usage; although, they say this
reduction is not definitive. If the energy savings caused by Daylight
Saving Time was significant in past decades, they say that the
advancement of technology and the change in lifestyle habits negates
most such energy savings today.
Abandonment of Daylight Saving
Time, and particularly changing time zones, by several states will
have an affect on national transportation and communication networks.
Amtrak rail, Greyhound bus, and airline schedules will have to be
changed and adapted in the states where such changes take place.
National radio and television network schedules may have to be
adapted, otherwise New England may receive programs an hour later
than their normal Eastern Time Zone broadcast.
Federal law does allow states to exempt
themselves from Daylight Saving Time, as Hawaii and Arizona already
do. Changing time zones is another matter. Approval by the U.S.
Department of Transportation or the Congress would be required if a
state wished to change time zones.
Some economists doubt Daylight Saving
Time will ever be completely eliminated, due to the influence of
special interests (particularly the travel, transportation, and
communication industries) as well as Americans favoring long, sunny
Summer nights. However, there is no doubt the debate regarding
Daylight Saving Time will continue.
Internet Links to Additional Information ---
Robert Garland and the establishment of Daylight Saving Time:
Link 1 >>> http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/March-2009/Curse-You-or-Bless-You-Robert-Garland/
Link 2 >>> https://archive.theincline.com/2018/03/05/the-story-of-robert-garland-father-of-daylight-saving-time-and-pittsburgh-city-council-member/
Link 3 >>> https://www.wpxi.com/archive/this-day-april-1-1918-first-daylight-saving-time-goes-into-effect/MN3I647B2VGTHB3WODHIBGNGYM/
"Extra Hour". Column: The City.
The Bulletin Index, Pittsburgh 1934 April 19. p. 11.
Discusses Pittsburgh City Council President Robert Garland's work to promote Daylight Saving Time, particularly Federal Daylight Saving Time legislation in 1917.
Daylight Saving Time:
Link 1 >>> https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/
Link 2 >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time
Uniform Time: Link >>> https://www.transportation.gov/regulations/time-act
Uniform Time Act of 1966: Link >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Time_Act
Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory:
Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2012/08/centennial-new-allegheny-observatory.html
Smithsonian Institution Secretary & Allegheny Observatory Director Samuel Pierpont Langley:
Link >>> http://johnbrashear.tripod.com/bio/LangleySP.htm
Benjamin Franklin's Ideas Regarding "Daylight Saving":
Link >>> https://www.ushistory.org/franklin/science/daylight.htm
March 9 U.S. House Public Hearing on Daylight Saving Time:
Link >>> https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/03/09/congress-hearing-daylight-saving/
Related Blog-Posts ---
"Some States to Abandon Daylight Saving Time ?" Sun., 2016 March 13.
Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday 2:00 a.m." Sat., 2014 March 8.
Source:
Glenn A. Walsh Reporting for SpaceWatchtower,
a project of Friends
of the Zeiss
Friday, 2022 March 11.
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gaw
Glenn A. Walsh, Informal Science Educator &
Communicator:
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/weblog/spacewatchtower/gaw/
Electronic
Mail: < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >
Project
Director, Friends of the Zeiss: Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/fotz/
SpaceWatchtower
Editor / Author: Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/
Formerly
Astronomical Observatory Coordinator & Planetarium Lecturer,
original Buhl Planetarium & Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a.
Buhl Science Center), Pittsburgh's science & technology museum
from 1939 to 1991.
Formerly Trustee, Andrew Carnegie Free Library
and Music Hall, Pittsburgh suburb of Carnegie, Pennsylvania.
Author
of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium,
Pittsburgh: Link >>> http://www.planetarium.cc Buhl Observatory: Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/11/75th-anniversary-americas-5th-public.html
*
Adler Planetarium, Chicago: Link >>> http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com
*
Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear: Link >>> http://johnbrashear.tripod.com
*
Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: Link >>> http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc
* Other Walsh Authored Blog &
Web-Sites: Link >>>
https://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/gawweb.html
