The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-03-16
The Metric System.

Mr. Thomas Tash Superintendent of the
city schools, delivered the closing lecture in
the Mechanics Association Course on the
"Metrlc System" at their hall last evening be-
fore goood audience. He was introduced by
Mr. Smith, and in opening said
He disclaimed coming before the audience
as teacher, but rather as an advocate for the
Metric System in preference to the cumberous
systems of weights and measures now in use.
In not appearing as teacher he does not pro-
pose to speak with the precision of the teacher,
but will not deviate from exactness enough to
mislead. We say the meter is about one-tenth
longer then the yard; the liter, in capacity,
about one-tenth greater than the liquid quart,
and the dry quart about one-tenth less than the
liter which is used in both dry and liquid
measures, taking the place of both the others;
the dekaliter, one-tenth more than the peck;
the half kilogram is one-tenth heavier than
the average pound, and the metric ton about
one-tenth more than the common ton, or about
equal to the long 1--we mean these are near
enough for illustration. So in the pound, Il he
half ounce in weighing letters is about fifteen
grams. These are all the quivalents now to be
considered. The audience are advised not to
trouble with equivalents or comparison of
systems but adhere to the metric alone in study
ing it.
medium of exchange, and as it passes from
hand to hand we call it currency, with it we
buy and sell; it is important that this currency
should have definite value and that 1T should
be easy to reckon. Our metric or decimal sys-
tenn of money was contrasted with the English
currency. Other metric measures were COM
pared with our currency scale, and shown to
be lust as simple. It'was shown that in all the
five measures in common use !. g., length, sur
face, volume, capacity and weight, only doz-
en- new terms need be learned, and with most
of those we.are in words in use already familiar.
These terms are seven prehxes; viz: deci-centi-
mill. for fractional parts, and deka, hectic
kilo, and myria, for tmultiples; also five
names for units. meter for length, liter for ca
pacity, gram for weight, or tor land measure,
and ster for wood. 1t was shown that the
meter was drawn from the meridian quarter
circle of the earth, it being one ten-milionth
mart of the same, and that the other measures
are drawn from this directly by scientific
system.
The new and old systems were compared in a
general way by means of the various measures
which were exhibited by way of illustration.
In reductions the beauty and simplicity Of the
metric system was proved. The reductions in
the old systems we're by multiplication and di-
vision; in the new by just moving the decimal
point to the right or left.
The two scales of thermometer were illustrate
ed: also the day and year were shown to be
natural divisions of time, not subject to mis-
take or change like other measures.
Short extracts from President j. y. Adams
were read disparaging the old system and ad-
proving the new. Some OF the principal OBJ
iections to the metric system were stated and
briefly answered. and its advantages as a uni
form international system, its simplicity It's un-
alterable base, its decimal divisions or denomi-
nations, its few terms, expressive to people of
evarv nation alike were stated.
The metric system has already been legalized
in most enlightened countries including our
own, and is obligatory in many of them. The
hope was expressed that it might soon beso in
the United States. The great saving in schools
and in traffic was urged as reason.