The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841, 1841-12-11
New Series.--N o.. 1.---No. \.

rlne, and agrarian purposes, two yards
would constitute one lathom; 81 yards,
one rod % yards, one chain of 100
links and 100 yards, one statute mile
the latter terms and quantities having
long been used in both countries to de-
fine distances on maps, charts, deeds,
grants, and other important documents,
to which reference is often required, and
consequently should be preserved. The
terms feet, inches, and lines should be
abolished, their places being supplied by
the tenths, hundredths, and thousandths
of yard. All old measures of feet and
inches can readily lie reduced to yards
and the decimaIs of yard, by dividing
the feet by 2, and the inches by SO.
By the new system, the chief imple-
mcnts to be used in measuring would con-
sst of rule or line one yard in length,
graduated on one side into tenths, hun
dredths, and thousandths and on the
other, into eighths, quarters, halves, &C.;
or of shorter or longer rods or lines grad
uated into the subdivisions or multiples of
yard and the Gunter's Chain % Yards
or 100 links in length, which has long
been used i'll both countries for agrarian
measures.
2. MEASURES OF SURF ACEs.-The unit
of the measures Of surface, might consist
of the square yard. which could also be
divided into tenths, hundredths, and thou
sandths, and be made to express any 9TH
or fractional parts of yard. 4S4O square
yards would, as at present, constitute an
acre, which could likewise be divided in
to tenths, hundredths, thousandths, &c.
and be made to express any other frac-
tional part of an acre. The terms rood
and rod, would very properly be discon-
tinued, which could easily be reduced
from the old system to the new, the for
mer being just OPS and the latter O.OO625
of an acre.
3. CUBIC OR SOLID MEAsURE.-The
unit of this measure might very conyen-
iently be made cubic yard, which could
be divided into tenths, hundredths, thou
sandths, &c, for merchants and engi.
neers, and into ten,h-yard, hundredth-
yard, and Unconstitutional cubes for 9TH
er purposes.
Wood and timber could be bought or
sold by the cubic yard, which might like
wise be divided into tenths, hundredths.
thousandths, &c. Then the most con-
venient lengths to cut market fuel would
be |, J, and two yards. The term tom,
as applied to rough and hewn timber, and
to shipping in cubt sense, might be dis
continued, and cubic yards substituted in
their stead.
4. LIqUID AND Dry MEAsUREs.-The
unit of liquid and dry measure might very
properly consist of the old wine gallon.
which contains, at present, 23l cubic
inches. 1t could be divided into tenths.
hundredths, and thousands, &C., which
can readily be made to express any other
fractional part of gallon that would oc-
cur in practice. The bushel might con-
tain 10 gallons, strict measure" and
should not be used for any other purpos-
es than measuring such materials as car
not be consistently bought or sold by
weight. 1t might also be divided into
tenths, hundredths, thousanndths. &c,
which could be made to express eighths,
quarters, halves, &c. as exemplifed in the
measures of length. The old denomina-
tons, quarters, weighs, lasts, cooms, pecks,