The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-06-27
THE METRIC SYSTEM
A Close Explanation OF its Origin AM

A Close Explanation of its Origin and
Uses.
Putting girdle around the earth may
not seem a necessary preliminary for de
velOping "a new mode of measurements,
yet this is what was done To obtain a ba-
sis for the metric system. One object in
devising a new scheme was TO secure a
standard unit, which should be superior
to all changes, which should never by
any complications in human affairs, he
altered or lost. AS to the old, familiar
English measures, such as barley-cOrn,
foot, grain, pennyweight and others
which seem TO have been taken from
common things as standards, no one
knows how far they were from once real
equivalents 10 the things they name /;
but il is quite certain there is no cores
pondence now; the length of a mans
foot or the weight of penny is no guide
to ascertaining length or gravity.
French scientists, in the closing years of
last century, devised the plan of measur-
ing q line on the surface of the earth suf-
ficiently long and definite to afford per
manent standard. The line selected was
the meridian, that is, direct line from
the equator to the north pole, passing
through Paris. About One-ninth part of
this quadrant was most deliberately and
precisely measured, and thus data were
Obtainet. for computing the whole length,
and One-ten-millionth of the whole was
selected as unit from which all meas
ures should be deduccd, and was chris
tened the lnetre-the chief or universal
measure. The philosophers considered
that if mankind should ever lose all reli-
able foot rules and steelyards, or if sus-
picion should arise that changes were
creeping in, error could be detected and
accuracy restored by measuring the me-
ridian again.
AS the equator is an imaginary line,
and the north pole an inaccessible spot,
this scheme for obtaining unit repro
ducible with certainty, seems question:
BILE, especially Us any second measure
ment might vary from the first by reason
OfimprOvements III methods and instru-
mentS And so the result has proved,
for some remeasurements made in recent
years have modified the original result
about 1000 feet on the quarter circum-
ference, and falsified the metre as adopt
cd and In Use by about 1-9OS of tan inch.
But this, though II somewhat disturbed
the theory, has not upset the system.
Practically, therefore, the metre is the
length of certain platinum bar. con-
structed to be equal to one ten-mIllionth
part of the earth's quadrant passing
through Paris, and kept AS standard
in the Palais DIES Archives in that city
AS thousands of copies have been made
in utmost possible conformity TO the
original bar, and are everywhere in use, n
permanent, Interchangeable unit is practic-
ally secured, and the earth can "bulge" a
little along that line, if she wishes, with
out doing the metric system any harm.
Old yof fan n fpsah mas hot "a
easiest possible mode of reckoning in
weights and measures should he attain
ed. For this purpose decimal division
has been adopted throughout. Ameri-
cans are so familiar with the conven-
fence of this principle in our national
coinage, that il shuuld be at once under
stood in its application to measurements.
Thus, reckoning upward, or toward
larger measures:
Ten metres make Il deca-metre.
Ten deca.metres make a hecto-metre
Ten hectic metres make kilO-metre.
And, reckoning downward, or toward
smaller measures:
One-tenth of metre is deci-metre.
One.tenth of deci-metre is . CENT?
metre.
One-tenth of centi-metre is a MILL.
metre.
The same decimal principal runs
throughout the extension of the system
to surfaces, solids, weights, &c.
Another advantage desired was to at
tain facility IN reducing measurements
of one kind to the corresponding eX
pressions in another computing weights
for instance, from known solid contents
For this purpose the metre is carried
out as the basis of all forms. All meas
ures of length are tens or tenths of the
metre. Measures of surface and of solid
capacity are formed by employing linear
measures in two or three directions, on
the same principle as the superficial Oh
solid foot is formed by measuring off a
linear foot In two directions or in three
For a weight, cube ofwater measuring
one centimetre in each direction is taken
rs a theoretical unit, called one gram, OF
gramme and multiples or aliquOt parts
of this, computed by tens, give the vari-
GUS measures of weight. The principle
is further extended to the various kinds
of measurement employed in the applied
science, until complete set of the table
seems like complicated maze; but
great ease and rapidity is the result in
all the varied and difficult computations
of scientific men.
| A fourth advantage desired was the
adoption of common, uniform system
This is less important in this country
| where the old fashioned English tables
have been uniformly used through the
states-than in Europe, where each ma
ton, and often each little principally
and canton, had its different system be
fore the metric was adopted. Thus, &
foot QfuSs) In HIesse, Darmstadt was les;
than 10 inches, In Prussia little more
than II, and in Swaryburg- RydOlstatC
Just above ID, and in other German state:
il varied between these limits. Tit
metric system was designed for uniform
use throughout the civilized world. 1t i;
steadily gaining favor. An information
al convention, held in 1875, secured
its acceptance so extensively that adOp
ton everywhere seems to be only a ques
ton Of time. In this country it was au
IthOrized, though not made obligatory
by act of congress in 1866, which provi
ded that standards be prepared by the
national government at Washington anC
furnished to the states. Many of the de
partmental bureaus and offices have vol
UNFAIRLY taken it. Scientific men, engin
GERS, surveyors and others, use IL eXten
sively for private computations and II
papers To be interchanged with each 9th
er, and will welcome the time when it i
understood among tradesmen and work
men.-EXchange.