New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-05


r,,,, In an amounting to 80 600 francs for papers on
ts,t.h medical and surgical subjects. Compeuuoh lof
al these prizes is open 20 oil the worh: c,,,s .
An article on "Ihe Manufacture Oh Onocoia'e was
-.aa and On led forth remarks from several members
N, Rcu stated that chocolate has be"n inaue IN iIs
ty OF such tine quality 20 bring orders or II rom
France which has always been considelea FOREMOST III
Articles ON "Confeotionery," The Preservation OF
49, =" and "The Frcote Re dltalia," were read
which are too long 20 insert IN our Columns. -
| I'm regard 10 casting great guns Mr.. JANIS L. JACK
.oR doubted the practicabihiy Of making poFecut
sound castings OF such great size. He had exemned
some fragments 1f large guns without glass anu 'ouno
them very porous. ~. -,
Mr. FfsifEg said this question Of the even quality OF
large castings was an important one. lie inquired
~hether any could give information feSaIunb we
quality OF the interior OF iron obutd some ho siicc IL
Ne Novelty Works.
Mr. MAYsSRD replied that the mass Of iron alluded
10 Ia solid feet by y not chilled IN Tue furnace; IL
had been poured into lade 10 be used with other melt
ms 10 form bed plate for steamship, but when the
zen we're ready 10 pour IT, IL was fOund 10 be chilled
was said that il would noe pay 20 break IT up but
the breaking was aitorward accomplished, ana on ex'
smnnC the fragments he surprised to find It's tex
tare even aud consistent 10 the center The large guns
alluded to have not long range as may be supposed
The effective no1 being done at Charleston IL by
i2p0uDders and not by 200 or 3OOpoundcrs.
The subject was further discussed ~ hessrs. hom
EEL BARTLETT. aud ROSWELL.
After some inquiries from Mr. Roof on the subject OF
steclc heat the selected subject was taken mp INC
Necessity for Reform in our Weights and measufes.
The chairman remarked that this subject las OF Ike
commanded the attention Of leading men IN every CIVIL
ised country There is an increasing desire iOr Tue
ADOPTION of the same standard, and uniform system vi
xschts and measures throughout the world. Much
labor is spent in computations ana many errors are
made IN calculations the consequence which would
be avoided If the commercial world In making esu
mates OF quantity used synonymous terms. With them
Translation from foreign language involves oomputa
zion Onr progressive movements have thus far related
principally TO applications of physical power, yet there
~ no Why reform should not embrace economical
in relation 20 mental as Wen as muscular exer
lion The transportation OF freight over two TnwayS
Of different gauges requires its transfer from one train
70 another The delay and labor involved in this move
nent have compelled railway companies TO adopt uni
form width OF track SO the transmission OF accounts
nom country 20 another, having different system
Of weights and measures requires transfer IN terms
the time and thought expended In this process can on
be cav ed By an international compromise which shall
secure TO commerce q uniform system The speaker
hen directed attention TO the evils arising from mis-
Of foreign terms even in orr daily read
ing single instance occurring lately in the trans
Actions OF this association was alluded 70 for the double
purpose of illustration and correction The distance oil
be star Sirius was given stated in an English jour
n,l IN which the word Billion written; in the
printed report of proceedings in the y TRIBUNE
ihe distance in figures estimating the Billion "a used
N this country and on the continent OF Europe 81 one
heusand millions But the English billion is mill.
n Of millions aud in this instance so used as VIII
b by calculating the distance by the time required
br the light Of Sirius 70 reach u.s. - years Inc SPEAK
Or then pointed oct other discrepancies In tho meaning
# terms. In Spain the yard is 1904 inches In the
United States and England it is 80 inches in Prussia
IS 81 inches In Austria 73o inches; IN France 9lJ;
| IA Rnssia 1891; in Switzerland $3.50 The iand-yard
taries considerably in different parts OF the British
KINGDOM ct HEREFORD 1t is feet and at Downpatrick
4 d feet
The mile estimated in American yards IL in Neither.
hpds O93 Yards IA England and this country. 100;
Scotland 1884 in Ireland, 2Oei IN Spain, sI2 IN
France 3O25 in Germany TO- 100; in Sweden, IL, 100 or
more than q American niles
The fact was also alluded TO, that we have In this
country estimates for the pound two for the hund.
nd weight. and two for the ton.
Mr. q. BARTLEIT spoke OF the advantages OF the dec
hsa system adopted by France. Tho scientific mon
journals taking the lead in the of that
tan England 10 30 conservative she dshkes TO leave
We old ruts, and is consequently behind most OF the
Continent Of Europe IN the Of the decimal system.
Mr. OvERTos spoke further Of the advantages OF the
French system. based on the meter which oneforty.
hOnth OF the eartbs circumference Is equal 10 5951
American inches. i
The CHlIRMAS said that q more correct estimate OF
he earhs circumference made since the adoption oil
meter had sghty altered the ratio as stated. The En-
sth standards were destroyed at the burning OF the
Bspses OF Parliament In 1884 aud new ones were not
sonpleted until 1914 49,
Dr. PARxgLER remarked that all metallic measures
vs liable to oxidation he would propose as tho stand.
ard weight diamond Of great size, for instance that
BOW belonging 10 the Queen Of Great britain
Nj FIsHER said that John Quincy Adams PAID great
sentOn to this subjects he proposed that me
yard should be pendulum Of fixed rate OF Oscillation
Mr. GAyTrr alluded TO the work Of Hasiett IN Proyld
ting standards 70 the several States by ORDER " Con
Eress and related some singular facts regndhg
standard OF measure sent TO North Carolina O course
was not 20 b. touched By the hand bat when recently
found in that State il was bent and appeared 70 nave
keeu hammered This incident Illustrates the ciVlzs
ton Of that part Of our country.
After remarks by Mr.. MILLER and others was
agreed 70 take up the subject again. That selected for
sext Thursday evening ID The Use OF Surface bteaIn
Cepdenserh" Adjourned.