New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-23
METRIC REFORM.

REPORT or TIE COMMITTEE on WEIGHTS, MEAS
URLS AND COINAGE BY prop. Y. A. p. BARNARD,
PRESIDENT or COLUMBIA COLLEGE, Nfw-foiK.
The original object of the Committee on
weights and Measures to collect information and re-
pot upon al neurological subjects not only In this coun-
try but throughout tho world Tho sYstam OF weights
and measures in this country though never established
by law many respects faulty and capable OF great
improvement without interfering with the fundamental
units Of quantity in popular AMI many would be
ready welcome % change which would not interfere
with units by the substitution OF now ones on the
ground that the present system ia own But this
ground s falacios AS no part oi that system is our own
except the denominations OF our coinage. Our measures
otlengh, weight surface and caE.cy wS 900 npor,cn
listed with other sanction than that of general lsage
At that time the Secretary Of the treasury transmitted
TSRost to C9ns oy mr. Which he eGmm
ncated the information that he had taken the necessary
o. tat Ia lad eive, the necessary orders 10 that en-
& have constructed standards OF length capacity, and
grus direct action upou this report, but tacty
approved it by passing Joint resolution IN ley6 direct
Ing copies OF the Treasury standards should be iur-
nshed the authorities OF the various States But the
Opportunity which then offered OF 80 reforming our
neurological system bring it into harmony with
universal system allowed 10 pass uDimproved The
dif tes now 10 be mel In accom- fishing that end arc
infinitely greater than existed The mistake of non
action al that time was largely owing 10 single Pubic
John Quincy Adams. then Secretary Of State in which,
after thorough and powerful analysis OF the suiJc
and The advantages 10 be derived from reform in
NEUROLOGY the impression conveyed thai such re-
form was practically hopeless
of the Treasury the Winches'or bnshc which had pre-
yiousy been the legal standard in England found to
have the appreciate or u cubic inches and
at that very time England had abvhehcd 1t as legal
measure and adopted IN It's srad the imperial bushl
gallon is neither the Winchester gallon nor the imperial
gallon. but the old wine gallon of Queen Anne Many
would no doubt welcome reform IN u Sc matters by
conforming the existing measures to those OF England;
but there Others who desire TO see our en- ire
swept away and replaced by one which win put us
soone or later in harmony with the world Az Organized
society has formed devoted 10 measures Tor the pro
motion OF neurological reform. by dhnsiDg III
formation among tho people, by appeals 10 CoitSs and
State Legislatures. ac, and has obtained tine coOIsilon
OF leading men engaged commerce in principal
cities In efforts looking toward legislative acI"n
gagged in the scientific professions prominent IN which
the architects who have mutually agreed To adopt
after day In the futuro, the nse OF the
weights and measures of tho metric system Such efforts
Will tend to educate the people into the merits OF better
In those countries where the metric system has been
adopted the mos, Lively interest is manifested IN It's con-
tinIsree and extension into universal Early in
1870 invitation was extended by the FRENCH Govern
Dent at the instance Of the Europedn Cooesle Asso
citation to all friendly nations 10 Cooperate win IL IN
endcayor through an International commission. 10 per
the units Of the metric system by prOvid
Ing standards and copies OF the sime FOR the use OF the
inoetng Of delegates from various nations held in
Paris in the Summer Of 1870, Piofs Joseph Henry and
j. T. Hgard being tho delegates from the United stat
At this MEETING af which Prof Henry only appeared for
this Government certain general principles wero agreed
upon for future guidance but In consequence OF the war
between France and Germany active measures were
attempted After the second needing took place
".
scoted Prof Hlgard appearing for tine United states
and which definite action was taken as u tho metod
construction of the new standards ana Tie mode OF
their adjustment and veT1hcatiOn
IL decided ~ make the new st3nuards-thc meter
and klOgIam-0f an alloy of platinum aud iridium, the
amount Of iridium being ten per cent, and that they
should be line METERS the standard OF length being the
distance between two docaey traced lines on the sur
OF the metal these lines TO be observed MICROSCOPE
cally and touched during tie pal1sons Tls
alloy ressts acids and all ordinary degrees OF heat u
order obtain the greatest rsidty determined 10
TO the bar section resembling combination
Of tho letters and H. the lines deDotng the limits OF tue
standard IL DO traced the surface at the bot
of tho trough thus formed SIDE OF tho
bar Of the II.
For the purposes Of uniformity. 1t resolved
struet tho whole from single ingot formed ut Oper
alton OF melting The duty vi preparing the bars accord
Ing " these rules c0nhdod 10 the French
section OF the commission, ~ also tho subse-
Qucnt OF comparison ana ycf1ncatiOn These vcrn
catOus having been cOnplcJd tbo Committee were 10
quired call the entire commission together and deliver
the standards thus completed IL whs also proposed 70
suggest " the governments represented Tie establish
ment Of permanent institution to bo called the inter
national bureau of standard weights anu MEASURES nav
delicate apparatus which had been employed IN the Gun
strucCon Of the Standards and to future compaTi
and ver1ucatiOns. IL decided accordingly 10
call conference or the nations to D. rect plan for such
organization and The means Of maintaining aud
invtsiion by the French Government was issued
IN JANUARY, 1873 AFTER delay,
stoned by necessary diplomatic correspondence,
Minister In Paris, Mr. WasLbuTne, authorized a
1T this Government In such Conference and
Iittlc than a month ago the conference
vcnod IL lbs been lsOerIned thai the establishment Of
such bureau has determined upOD the proposition
having received the assent Of France, Germany Austria
Italy spain, Russia. 6wesleD, Norway, Bcli,iuIn and
swit1erlAnd. our own ooneurDg far