The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-10-07
The Metric System.

established customs that commend
themselves at first sight to the common
sense. Such emphaticalIy is the pro-
posed adoption BY all civilized bations
ofthe metric or decimal system Of
weights and measures. The advantage
Of an uniform an universal system 10
Facilitating commerce between the ma
tions of the earth is too evident to
need argument; while in our own
country especially, the advantage Of
subsisting one simple, logical form Of
tables Of weights and measures for the
absurd and arbitrary series now in use,
which it takes years of study to master
and frequent practice to retain is equal
ly evident. The metric, or French
system, is based on the meter, the stan
dard Of linear measure, representing
the ten millionth part Of the distance
from the Equator to the North pole, or
1858 inches, or nearly 81 feet. In
this country We have already conven-
lent starting point for this system in
our decimal system Of dimes. cents aud
dollars, and a number Of the ablest
scientific men ia the nation, headed by
Charles Frrncis Adams, President Of
the American Academy Of arts and
Sciences. have issued circular ex-
planning the system and urging written
agreements to adopt it. They say:
Such common system is offered US
in the metric-a system, according to
which the weight aud dimensions of
every material thing, whether solid,
liquid, or gaseous, whether on land or
On water, whether 10 the earth or in
the heavens, and whether determiaed
by the scale, plummet, balance, baron.
eter, or thermometer, are asccrtaincd
by method absolutely uniform, en-
sirc|y simple, and equally suitable to
the use Of all mankind, resting nroa
single invariable standard OF linear
measure, with multip'es and sub mul-
tiples, like those Of our monetary sys-
tenn, exclusively decimal, with appro-
pirate names, siuiIar in all lunguayes;
and itself secure against the possibility
Of change or loss through carelessness,
or accident, or design, by being Goa.
strustsd on scieati6c principles and
copied for distribution among the diff
erent nativus ni tie word
The system has already been adopted
by the Frapch, Germans, Span'aris.
Italians, Swiss, Portuguese, Dutch,
Belg,ans. Mexicans, Swiss, Austriaus,
Danes, Grecians, British in India,
Brazilians and majority Of the civil
lied nations Of South America. Ii
has been legalizei in Great Britain,
and that slow moving people are sradu-
ally working into its use: Ia Germany
i; is made compulsory. In 1866 it
was legaiized in the United States, and
it would seem that, after ten years of
preparation. the centennial year would
be a fitting time for its practical adop-
tion. A general agreement BY people
engaged in the different trades, scien
ces, and commercial occupations to use
the metrical system entirely after 4
certain date, would effect its introduc-
1ion, and in short time It would sue
cessfulIy establish its merits. .-Lhicago
Post anu Null,
GREAT Loss OF Mall MATTER AND
STAMPS A great many newspapers
and other transient mail matter is lost,
including TIE stamps put on the same
from being insuf6ciently stamped. All
matter Of this kind requires one cent
for each ounce, or fraction of'sn ounce
and if not SO stamped is not forwarded
but becomes "dead" matter, not only
the stamps being dead loss to the
seuders, but the matter never reaching
those for whom intended. Bushels Of
this matter are thrown aside every day
in the Chicago rostofice. Better have
your packages weighed when you mail
them, or be very sure you put on
enough postage stamps.