Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-14
COMMUNICATIONS.
MECHANISM, No. v.-Br Josriu HoIsnooK.
rnR rHE nArIoNAL INrELLIaEScER

THE NATIONAL ISrELLIsEScER.
A square is the measuring unit" The amount Of all
surfaces determined by square This may
be expressed in miles, urlongs rods yards feet inches
any other specified No what the shape Of
quantity of land, boards, cloth, paper glass; any other
article, the amount Of surface is always aceraned and
pressed By the number Of squares and parts squares
ains either 10 miles, feet, other known measure
The properties and of this simple OF all figures
save one, Of important to be understood most Ia
miary by every person. No thing, probably is at
important and little understood the figure with
four equal sides and angles Very many Of the most n,eli
gent members Of society have clear apprehension Of the
difference between six miles square and six square mites
person Of much intelligence csntended few days ago that
in the District Of Columbia, in is original dimensions, there
only square miles, and could not be convinced Of
his error until hown by checker board Net long since
painter Of twenty years experience named price per
sheet for painting paper On being asked what would be
bis price for sheets double tie length and BREADTH replied
double tie price; oering, Of course to do times the
work e twice the money Cases Of smsr character
might be named alnss whsat numbe Of intelligent, expe
renced business mak0g bundecs, attended with far
greater inconvesenoe and ss than working half price,
and simply from the Of little knowledge, entirely with
in the comprehension of every child Of I've yearsed attended
with high degree ofpIeasue in acquiring.
II children should sccupy the first hour spent in
scheosSom by drawing upon their dates square with iss
different divisions, they might have proof positive that in
inch square four halinch squares; that in ten miles
square there are hundred squarc miles. They would
also proof positive that by the diagonal division OF
square, they would fon right aased soscees ranges
or grres with right angle and two eqgal Sides they
would thus qsire this early positive practical know
ledge which would gseatly aid them in "squaring thar
scor during the whole Of their future lives whatever might
be their pursuits. Those becoming editions would not be
likely to mske ihe mistake of of the most able editors in
the country bo in speaking Of fire in Boston, stated that
i, burn, about enc husdred and fly square feet that is
surface equal to roo. of fifteen feet by If the space
burnt was one hundred and fifty feet square it contained
more than twenty theussad square feeather mistake for
an intelligent end able editor in the literary emporium Of
Union. s
ExrCRIMExrs~-Ift the schools Of New Eork and WASH
npton and of al other places disposed shoad have their
attention directed the few weeks befoe the August ho
DAYS. to soma peacca lessons the properties and of
the square, they would doubtless prepare many instructive
and beautiful illustrations in of the most important branch
knowledge eadeed instructive by exchanges be-
tween different Schools being distributed through this and
other countries for de diffusion Of scientific light and the pro-
motion Of generous and patriotic feelings. National func
sionaes both Of or and of foreign Governments. have
large MEMBERS expressed hgh degree Of pleasure in OPP
portunies for distributing such knowledge tor such purposes
Numerous such specimens Of usenie improvement prepared
both New York and Washington, have been distributed
far and wide in this sEd other countries few now de-
psed for distribution at the bookstore Of Mr. Gray in Sc
wealth street. Washington, which Mr. G. will be happy to
shcw to those wishing to examine them.