Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-08-01


others, having different names anG
values, bear no useful relation tt
each other. Also, in measuring
weights, there are employed eighteen
units, three of which are duplicated
while others have the same name
but are of different values. Those
which are duplicated, he observes, tC
that extent reduce the number oi
units employed for different pur
poses but the fact of their duplica.
ton confuses rather than simplifies
the system. Also in the measure
ment Of capacity there are employed
twenty-seven units, though but nine
teen have different names. None OF
these are duplicated except in names;
but the gallon has three different
l.values, as likewise has the quart,
and so, too, the pint. The bushel as
a measure appears to have but one
value but in nearly every State,
and in the Customs-tariff of the
United States, the term bushel is
employed also as a unit Of weight
The law fixes the number of pounds
contained in a bushel according to
the substance weighed. According
to the table prepared by Mr.. Upton,
it appears that the number of COM
modities for which the law has estab-
lished different weights per bushel in
one State or another. is no less than
fifty-six, while throughout this whole
table there is but one commodity Of
any considerable Importance, in re-
gard to which the weight is quite
uniform everywhere. That commo-
dity is wheat, of which the bushel in
every State, where, ST. far as is
known, there has been legislation on
the subject, has been fixed at sixty
pounds. In regard to the other
very common products of the earth,
there is in general no uniform stand
ard universally prevailing, though in
the case of rye and Indian corn there
is a near approach to uniformity.
Even in contiguous States so small
in territory as those Of Massachusetts,
and Vermont, are found singular
and unaccOuntable differences. In
the one bushel of oats is thirty-two
pounds and in the other thirty.
Comparing the two States of New
York and New Jersey, we find a
bushel of Indian corn to be fifty
eight pounds in the first and ffty-siX
in the second. Also for New York
a bushel of clover-seed is sixty
pounds, and for New Jersey it is
sixty-four pounds while for the same
commodity Pennsylvania fixes the
weight at sixty-two pounds. The
confusion here illustrated is every
where prevalent throughout the
country. Trade being entirely free
between the States, no argument is
necessary to show how great must be
the inconvenience of having so com
mon a standard as the bushel cOntin-
ually varying, as we pass from one
State into another. But even in
local transactions, or transactions
within a single State, as Mr.. Upton
observes, one meets with Troy
weights, apothecary's weights and
avoirdupos weights with long tons,
short tons, and ship tons with wine
gallons, beer gallons, and dry gal
Ions; and with bushels of undefina-
bic sizes, making an aggregate truly
appalling.
The conclusion to which distin-
guished writer is led by these facts
is thus expressed "a system con
sistlng Of a single unit for each
measure, bearing some relation to
each other, and having uniform
divisions and multiples, would evil
IDENTIFY be far superior for all pur-
poses OF measurements, local or
throughout States; and if superior
for local and national use, it would
also be preferable for international
purposes, if, at the same time it
should be in harmony with the sys-
tens Of other countries. "
Mr.. Upton then proceeds to give
an account of the Metric System.
Having stated its origin and charac-
.teristics he goes on to specify its ad-
vantages as compared with our ex-
listing system, which he finds to con-
sist first in having an invariable
standard Of length taken from ma
ture; second in its having a single
unit of weight derived directly from
that Of length, and single unit Of
capacity similarly derived for sub
stances Of all kinds. wet or dry;
thirdly in its having decimal subdi-
visions and multiples of its several
units; fourthly In the uniformity,
precision and signifcancy of its no
menclature. All these advantages
he pronOunces real and substantial.
But in regard to the first he ques-
tionS whether the adoption of an in
variable natural dimension as stan
dard is really of any great practical
Importance. The standard base of
the Metric System purports to be an
an aliquot part of the earth's polar
circumference. Mr.. Upton thinks
that such a definite relation to the
magnitude of the planet could be of
no particular use, unless in its APP
plication to geography and astrOnO-
my. With regard to this he makes
the somewhat unexpected statement
that the division of the quadrant of
the circle decimally into hundredths
and thOusandths is found impractical
bic, and that the project has been
abandoned; adding that to this ex-
tent the Metric System has proved a