Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-08-06
VNeirhta mud NIensnrea.
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION IN THE UNITED
STATES OF THE METRIC SYSTEM.


STATES OF THE METRIC SYSTEM.
An important aud vigorous movement
has been made throughout the United
States TO bring into more general use the
European (metric or decinaD system of
weights and measures. The system was
legaized by our Congress nine years ago,
and has now been adopted in our principal
scientific works. The American public is
already familiar with the principles of this
system without being clearly conscious of
the fact, inasmuch as ii appears in the sim
plest and most familiar Of our tables,
namely, that of the Federal currency-our
mills, cents and dimes corresponding, both
in nomenclature and in their decimal rela-
tions TO each other, with the mill-imeler,
cent-imeter, dec-imeter, the mill-igram,
cent-igram, doc-igram, the millileter, cent
ileter, Gec-ileter, which constitute the
metric system of weights and measures.
This perfectly simple nomenclature is
composed Of twelve words, all in use in
the English language, thus: meter in Their
mometer; MILL, cent?, aud deci in mill,
cent and dime deka in decade, hectic in
hecatomb, kilo in chiliad, myria in myri-
ad, liter in lilrameter gram in gram (see
Websler's dicliOnnry,) are in area, stere in
stereoscope. Although, therefore, the sys-
tenn has long been taught in our schools,
especially since its legaizltion by Con-
gress in 1866, no schooling is really ntces-
sary TO teach principles and nomenclature
with which we arc already familiar. AS
for the value of the several units, they may
be learned in few hours by glancing at
full-szed models of them exhibited, as was
done in Germany al the time of its intro
duction in that country in 1862, in all the
shop windows. No one could walk twenty
steps in the business part Of city without
seeing before him at every turn full-sized
charts and models Of the metric weights
and measures. With these constantly in
view, The most ignorant classes found nc
difficulty in understanding the decima
| system whereas, the so-cailed English
| system now in use here i a mystery even
to such As may have enjoyed Il dozen year,
of schooling therein. Speaking Of metric
tables, Charles Sumner said: "In this bre
| space you behold the whole metric system
| of weights and measures. What a contrast
| to the anterior confusion! A boy at schoo
can master the metric system in an aftor
noon. Months, if not years, are required
TO store way the perpleXitie>, the incon
| gruities, aud Inconsistencies Ufthe existing
weights and measures, and then the mem
DRY must oflen fail in reproducing them
The mystery Of compound arithmetic is
essential in the calculation which they re
quire. All this is done away by the deci
NAL progression, SO that the first few rule
OF arithmetic are ample for the pupils"
THE CHANGE PROPOSED.
A circular containing an agreement bind
ing the signers to use the metric system
after July 1, 1876, has been sent TO all tn,
cities and towns In the United States Goa.
tanning upwards of 5000 inhabitants. Ev.
cry city or town SO far canvassed has re
turned whcming mqjorities. MAORI.
ties had previously been secured from New
York, Chicago, Brooklyn, Boston, Balti
more, ST. Louis, Portland, Newport, &c.
and from over thirty other cities and towns
cooperation has been promised. Tn
number Of signatures Of architects frou
Boston alone amounts 10 lOI, nearly to
tally of the profession.
TuE NEW TABLES
The following simple tables give all lha
there is in the metric or decimal system O
weights aud measures:
Money.
10 mills make n cent.
10 cents make dime.
| 10 dimes make a dollar.
10 dollars make an eagle.
Length.
| 10 nIilli-meiers make a centimeer.
| 10 centi-lneters make a decimeter.
| 10 deci meters make a meter.
10 meters make a dekameler.
10 deka-mctcrs make a hectOmeter.
10 hecto-meters make kilOmeter.
| 10 kilo-meters make a niriameter.
Weights.
10 milli grams make centigram.
10 cent? grams make a decigram.
| 10 deci-grams make gram.
10 grams make a dekagraIn.
| 10 deka-erams make a hectogram.
| 10 hecto-grams make a kilogram.
10 kilo- grams make a myriagram.
capacity.
10 miln-liters make a centliter.
10 centi-liters make deciliter.
| 10 deci-lhers make liter.
10 liters make a dekaliler.
| 10 deka-liiers make a becloliter.
The square and cubic measure are moth
ing more than the squares and cubes of til
measures of length. Thus n square and
cubic millimeter are the square and cub
of which one side is milimeter in length
The are and Stere are other names for tn
square dekaIneter and the cubic meter.
| BOSTON TTnuNcriUL