Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-04-10
METRIC SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS


AND MEASURES. Prof. III. G. Har-
don, of Boston, now on visit to the
town for few days, spoke to the
teachers and some of the prominent
citizens of the place on the French
system of weights and measures.
The lectures, given in the form of
lessons, were two in number, given
on Thursday and Friday, at the Se-
cond Ward School, at At, p. NJ.
Mr.. II. stated in the commence
ment, that nearly all the civilized
world had adopted this system that
the system originated in France;
that its unit of length is the meter;
that this meter is one ten millioneth
part of the distance from the equa-
tor to the pole and is trifle more
than a yard that it has been calcu-
lated with a high degree of accuracy
and preserved in platinum metal,
Changing little in length by heat
and cold), in the archives of all civ
ilized nations, and that il lost, even
to the whole world, it could be east
ly calculated again. We thus have
standard that can, and will be pre-
served. The meter of this system,
is that from which all measures of
length, from the width of hair to
the distance of suns, are derived.
Not this only. but the surface and
solid measures and measures of ca
pacity and measures of weight are
derived from the same, with an &C.
curacy admitting of the immediate
detection of frauds and restoration
to the standard in cases OF doubt.
All this is but small part of the
value of the system. For everything
is embraced in a set of five tables on
the decimal principles of increase
and decrease, the whole of which can
be learned and rapidly practiced be-
fore boy of average capacity could
learn the tables of square measure.
Were this system of weights and
measures in use in this country, to
the exclusion of the old Inheritance,
with its cumbersome calculations, it
would save a great deal of time In
the schools for other more profitable
work, diminish the labor of calcula-
tions in all Custom-houses, county,
town and farm surveys; make it
possible also to come to any close re-
suits i'll a thousand things in every
day life without touching pencil to
paper. Added to all this, we should
at once be in harmony with the great
bulk of the civilized world, England
being the principal exception to its
general adoption. Mr.. III. believes
it to be as great an advance as the
adoption among all nations of the
Arabic mode of notation, and as easy
to understand as the system of dol
lars and cents. Though now in use
in France for nearly century, we
may not live to see it in this country,
yet come it will. for it is founded in
science and common sense, and To-
gyism will by and by give way to its
adoption.
Prof. Harden passed his early
youth and manhood in Martinsburg,
and has warm side for the old town
and his boyhood associates. He feels
deep interest in the educational in
terests of the town, and during his
recent visit presented the public
schools with complete set of charts,
globes, &C., for use in the schools.
He has on several occasions hereto
fore made valuable presents of books,
apparatus, &C., to the schools.
A LARGE stock of buntings and
fancy goods and dress goods at EN-
inert & Fiery's one price store. Call