Customs: Toward Nationwide D.S.T.

CUSTOMS Toward Nationwide D.S.T.

Ever since the U.S. began experimenting with daylight-saving time in 1918, the nation during the spring, summer and fall has turned itself into a chaotic crazy quilt of conflicting time patterns. Eighteen states observe D.S.T. on a uniform statewide basis. In another 18 states, individual communities decide for themselves whether or not they will follow D.S.T. and set for themselves the dates on which it goes into and out of effect. Fourteen other states, including almost the entire South, remain on standard time all year long.

The great timekeeping hodgepodge costs railroads, airlines and bus companies millions of...