The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-03-10
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1886.
THE METRIC SYSTEM.
BY A. II. MCKAY, b. A., b. sc.

The metric system Of weights and
measures was originated in France.
The Bishop of Autun. better known
as Prince de Talleyrand, first SUBJ
mitted the project of a decree upon
the subject of the National Assem-
bly,, in 1890. On the 9TH of April,
1895, the new system was adopted
and the old suppressed. The key
stone of the whole fabric was the
metre, unit of length of the
most cosmopolitan character, being
the 10000, 00Oth part of meridian
of the earth from pole to equator.
Decimal divisions only were used
for all the other weights and meas
ures and their subdivisions. This,
besides forming u system which
might be adopted by every nation of
the world without any sentimental
objections, besides annihilating vex-
ations and expensive difficulties in
international trade, sweeps from the
common school arithmetic nearly all
the compound rules. The gain TO
the community by the universal
adoption of the system, once the
difficulties of introduction are passed,
may be put down under three heads,
whilst. Simplication in foreign
trade business. 2nd. Simplicatioh in
all computations involving weights
and measurements, and, }rd. A great
gain in the amount of practical
arithmetic taught in the common
school.
Next, let us consider the history
of its progress in the direction of
universal adoption. Although, as
remarked by Mr.. Adams in his re-
port to Congress on the subject in
1921, sit would be impossible to
devise a decimal system more per-
feet and harmonious in its parts,
coupled with n nomenclature so ex-
pressive of the multiple or division
of the unit of weight or measure it
represents" yet from its very incep-
ton it met with the most overwhelm-
ing difficulties in being introduced
into popular practice. In France,
1912, decree permitted the use of
the old weights and measures. In
1887, the old system was swept out,
allowing some federation, however,
until the 1st of jan, 1910. After
this date even reference to the old
weights and measures in any con-
tract was followed by heavy penal
ties. In 1864, the metric system
was made permissive in Great Brit
ain. The Imperial system establish
ed by law in 1885 is yet most eX-
tensiveIy used in all ordinary bust
ness. The metric system is, however,
becoming more popular, especially
in the universities and high schools,
and in the lines of trade with coun-
tries which have already adopted the
decimal neurology. In 1868, the
North German Parliament passed an
act adopting the system, and declar-
ing its use permissive from 1st jan,
1870, but compulsory on and after
1st JAN, 1872. In 1871, it was
made permissive in the Dominion of
Canada. 1t was at that date wholly
adopted in the following countries,
having an aggregate population OF
100000, viz: France with
Algiers, Belgium, Netherlands and
Colonies, Italy, Papal States, Spain
and Colonies, Portugal and Colonies,
Greece, Mexico, Chill, Brazil, New
Grenada, and other South American
Republics. 1t was partially adopted
by the following, having popula-
ton of 1873, 100000, viz: Switzer-
land, Hanse Towns, Denmark,
Austria and British India. 1t was
permissive in the following, with
population of 90,000,000, viz.
Great Britain, United States of
America and Prussia and North
Germany. Since this time the
metric system has deem silently but
continuously growing in popularity
in these latter countries, in which it
has been merely permissive.
The fact that so many countries
have already given up their old sys-
TEN for the metric, and that in our
country it is permissiye, is one of
the most positive and unanswerable
proofs of its great advantages. 1t is
therefore the duty of all who know
these facts to bring them to the
knowledge of our people, and keep the
subject before them until they be
ready to utilize for their own and
their country's advantage this sys.
TEN which is now within their reach.
And nowhere can this be more
effectively done than through our