New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-21

racv NJ the end Of the s ted by tho appearance
known the Newtonan rings bS pressaS Pieos an
inch The method Of subdivision IL equally inter- tlo
ssns Sa by
st; they kept constantly under glass, IN ~
while handled ot s sTss @ be dis
tribnted TO the states next year.
DR. ]. Lawrence Smith OF Louisville declared that we
must prepare ourselves for the inevitable the whole
world would eventually adopt the metric system. Pro
Hlgard suggested that only the Latin races took kindly
10 Another gentleman urged the absolute necessity
Tor Its Immediate introduction into our common schools
as otherwise we were falling behind Europe Dr. Wander
poker He showered ridcne upon the system IN use
and its origin in the Length Of ms Maloss ebSw pfpI
system left little trouble to pupils in learning tables OF
that pupls should have something To study Prof. Eaton
wanted TO know whether the iron metric noasure ldc
% Of the PAR ' snr ons Wai ay Ogte was D y
from long immersion In ice-water but mentioned that
we were well of as the Parlsans, for they had loSt
their patina meter during the war, and depended, he
u' he DISCUSSION Of the metric system was renewed in
tho eyeuing, when Prof Hgard undertook 10 clear the
ground for clear field and no favor" He considered
that new natural system was out OF the question As
n What units of weight and measure should he adopted,
he had no personal bias. Either phra5eOlOgY OF measure
presented clear idea TO his mind he accustomed to
made inquiry OF him to which method most ad-
visabe for their adoption He had to admit that no.
have the measures OF the metric system The largest
machnenaker in the United States assured him
that II he made machines by the mctrical system
bo conld not sell them. Similarly, everybody that
has pair of scales does not want to have TO
replace them by another. All the permanent
values are expressed in measures OF lohgth.
Every foot OF the United States. every piece Of prop
sections acres every portion Of which must torn up
into fractions OF meters Endless law business would
spring up in consequence OF such change. AT tho pres
ent time world does s work by machinery. Change
such this involves affects capital to the amount OF mil
lions OF dollars What with mill that outs lln-
Der to metric sizes could sell his lumber cut Tho
machinery in every shop that makes things TO measure
OF 1n.1 iulf han
advantages uniformity with continental measures,
and sparing tho young the trouble OF leaning the old
methods. But after ALL in all the great work hops and
engineering works. the decimal system has forced IL way,
far as inches or miles are concerned 1t Is only Aet
the unit Of the system IL not decimalized
Prof. Wander Weyde favored its Introduction. In
Holland, when introduced the process was gradual
Workshops long retained the old system. The medical
profession still retained tho old STYLE fearing that the
difference between grammes and grains might poison
patient. He described the method by which the metTical
units had been obtained lie said that The gradual edq-
cation the schools had resulted In the of the metr
cal system by the people as they up lie denied
that the system was only adapted to the Latin race and
insanced the OF its introduction into Germany
silver currency with perfect convenience. All that was
necessary to estimate the value OF the coin OF those eo
tries to weigh In SCALE its value represented
by its weight in the decimal system, and counting OF
the coin Is There were the factSthe old syS
TEN had gone out OF use
Prof j. Lawrence Smith objected to the plea OF Prof.
Hgard, that this opposition was that kind OF coserya
ism that simply Old-fOgyism He related tho eNpc-
rence Of the Commissioners at the Great Exhibition IN
London All these arguments against the change were
and there
that generations trial OF the system is sufficient
it In mind. one OF these Commission r., Mr. Rug
threeccnt pieces to the weights Of letters, and
minded by Frenchman that this was simply part on
ne metric system in France Ihe tbot nj
the changes could be made by means or calculating
machine. Those Governments which nave maze u OPP
tonal have succeeded well in Its - tose
which made it compulsory. The ann Is 10 ioio y I9
the Russian system was the same as tLe i-hsHsn
and inches: , A.. 10000 ,,,,, g., C,orrnanv.
making the metric system voluntary at rst but To be
come compulsory In 1872 For customs purposes the
ZolyeTein has used the metric system for many years
In England commission has recommended lts use LOT
all international purposes but the decision as to inter
nal England Is, that for the present no urgency
shall be applied for its introduction. Ii Will probably
soon be favoraby considered for postal purposes was
his opinion that although the metric system IL the best
known, 1t yet possible that even better system
based upon the existing system, might be devised Inc
polar dividing that into 100000 parts wch
quarter inches would he just one-rnonth the semi
axis There would be similar convenient relations to the
Prot wander Weyde Thought that Herschels plan was
merely devised from dislike TO anything french;
is origin across the Channel lie pointed out some OF
the Inconvenience which would result from the adop-
Prof Elliott pointed out reply element of pro,
upOn straight line; but the metric system was based
UPON quadrant of the meridian, which was curved
line; and he showed the difficulties which this distnc
ton introduced In astronomical processes.
Prof. Eaton spoke nbout the popular opinion on the
feeling about it. SO far that Is CONCERNED there WAS
nothing sort in the Association The success or it,
Introduction in France not to be enyied. IL was a
hard struggle Even now the year was not 40 divided
Let boy divide n stick in natural way he will try to
break 1t In halves and again I'm quarters but never under
any circumstances into hfts and tenths He reiterated
the observation OF the Chairman that except that the
units were different, the decimal system really In
use here. In France, the fvefranc piece equiya
lent for the dollar in universal use which prac
ticaly violation of the decimal system He thought
1t could only be brought into use IN this country by
cOmpuslOn.
Dr. KirkwOod read paper on Solar Spots. The num-
Der OF solar spots Is steadily diminishing In period Of
great number OF years, 1740 to ISL this fact has been
demonstrated 1t IS evident from 755 to 1870 and
since; and the latest observations indicate the progress
OF this change. The facts noted extremely difficult
TO account the result OF planetary influence. Prof
Hilgard In the discussion which followed, expressed
great doubts about the commonly received theory OF
cOrrespOndepce between great solar disturbances and
great magnetic storms. The well-known incident OF u
Simultaneous solar spot and magnetic storm in 1859,
Prof Higard considered might be accidental. lie said
he had no doubt that some observer would find violent
magnetic concident with the recent explosion a
the arsenal at Washington but that 1t would be difficult
to find magnetic not cOincdent with something
equally remarkable.