The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-12-04
weIgh1. and Measures.

An International Congress is now in session in
Paris. for the purpose of reducing the conflicting
systems of weights and measures to one general
standard. Very little has been said or heard Of
the Conference, and yet it embraces in its organ
ization some of the most noted scientific men in
the world. Mr.. ]. E. Hildgard, Of the Coast
/ Survey, who has charge of the standard weights
and measures at Washington, represents this
country England is represented by Prof Airy,
the Astronomer Royal, and Mr.. Chisholm, Gus
todan of Weights and Measures Germany, by
Dr. Forster, Director of the Observatory, and
General Boyer, President Of the Geodetic Insti-
tute Of Berlin; Russia, by NJ. jacob, Of the St
Petersburg Academy of Sciences, Prof Struve,
Director Of the Observatory at Pultowa, and
Prof. Wilde, Director of the Central Observatory
at St. Petersburg France, by NJ. de Bort, Min
lister of Commerce and Agriculture, Gen. NORM,
and NJ Tresca, of the Conservatory of Arts and
Trades and various members of the Institute;
and the Holy See by the renowned astronomers
Father Zecchi. 1t is proof of the general in
terest which is centered 10 this matter that Aus
tria, Bavaria, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland,
Span Portugal, Greece, Italy, Holland, Belgium
Denmark, the Argentine Republic, Peru, Mica
ragua, Uruguay, Turkey. and Venezuela have all
sent their most eminent men to this Conference.
OF the desirability of reducing weights and
measures to a common standard, the world over,
there is no doubt of the possibility of accom-
plishing it, there is every doubt. The universal
element of habit, and the feeling of each nation
atty that its own system is the best, will IN
doubtedly operate to prevent any practical results
being reached. We shall probably have any
amount of learned dispositions on this topic, and
profound mathematical and astronomical essays,
covering wide range Of scientific investigation,
and then the Conference will adjourn without TAX
ing any definite action. 1t will be very difficult,
for instance, to convince an American that there
is any better SYSTEM than the good old rule of
measuring twelve inches to the foot and twelve
ounces to the pound the gentlemen from Vene-
zuela and the Isles of the Sea will cling to their
systems with persistent tenacity, and the pro-
found astronomer Zecchi will undoubtedly bring
proofs from the stars and meteors, on behalf Of
the Holy See, that all the systems ought to 60
with the Index Erpiagatoritls, and that new
one should be constructed. The French have
the preponderating influence in the Conference;
it is the French metric system which has inspired
this meeting, and they have hopes to reduce all
other systems to their official standard of the
+" metre" the litre, and gramme." And yet
according to the statement OF French papers,
the official system has not been adopted TO any
appreciable extent BY the people at large. The
shopkeepers still retain the old weights and
measures and do business as their fathers did
before them. The prospect, therefore, that the
French authorities can induce the foreign mem
bers of the Conference to accept a system which
their own people are not willing to adopt, is not
very brilliant one, nor does it seem at all prob
able that any result will ensue from the meeting
except some very learned and very tedious dis
QUESTIONS of an exasperatingy technical descirip
ton. The world will, undoubtedly 60 on weigh
ing and measuring as it has done since the food
and, as it has got along very comfortably, and
without conflict for thousands of years past, it
will probably continue to so for thousands of
wears to come content TO leave metres, litres and
grammes yards, feet and pounds as they are.