Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-03
OUR NEW STANDARDS.
The International Measures, Agreed
Upon in Paris, Arrive,
AND THE PRESIDENT OPENS THEM
In the Presence of Mr.. Blaine and Several
Other Witnesses.
THE ORIGINALS REMAIN IN FRANCE

WASHINGTON, January 2.-The national
prototypes allotted to the United States at
the International Convention of Weights
and Measures in Paris, during September
last, were formally received and accepted by
the President this afternoon, in the presence
of a distinguished company of represents
tive and scientific men. They were brought
from Paris in two boxes, carefully sealed
and marked, and have been vigilsntly
guarded from the moment of their manu-
facture.
The boxes were opened to-day by
mechanicisn from the United States Coast
Survey. The President was attended by
Secretaries Blaine and Window, and among
the others present were Profs. Mendenhall,
Langley, Newcomb, Hilgard, Rees and
Myrtle, General Silas Casey, Mr.. A. Leech,
Director of the Mint, Mr.. Trescol, of the
Pan-American, Congress, and Representa-
tives Conger and Carter. Mrs. Mckee, the
Presidents daughter, and her guest, Mrs.
spectators of the simple ceremonies attend
ing the opening of the boxes, the examina-
tion of their contents and the Presidents re-
ceipt therefor.
THE WORLDS COOPERATION.
This latter document was drawn up one
parchment, and the Presidents signature
was duly attested by Secretaries Blaine and
Window. These new standards were con-
structed by the cooperation of the principal
Governments of the world. The history of
the new standards in brief is as follows: In
1869 the French Government invited other
L. Ill, a. g.. A
purpose of forming an International COM
mission and constructing new method for
the international standard of length. The
invitation was accepted and our Gov
ernment appointed Professors Henry
and Hilgard as delegates. In 1876
a treaty was signed at Paris for
the establishment of an international
bureau of weights and measures. The
bureau was established, and put under the
administrative direction of delegates from
the various countries concerned. A large
staff of learned men was employed, to study
the methods for carrying out precisely the
theoretical requirements agreed upon as
necessary by the delegates. The difficult
ties encountered were all surmounted, and
the work was carried to q successful COM
pletion; the standards ordered by the
various Governments were distributed by
lot, last September.
GUARDED MOST PERFECTLY.
One set of the standards, set apart as the
international prototypes, is kept in a deep
hole at the International Bureau. The OBJ
ject of putting them in hole is to secure
them against accident and sudden or great
changes of temperature, as it is
deemed possible that permanent changes
in the molecular structure of
the materials of the standards |
may be brought about by such fluctuations
of temperature. No single person can have |
access to the international prototypes. The |
cave islocked by three different keys in the |
hands of as many individuals, and every |
conceivable precautlon has been taken to !
keep them invariable. The standards dis |
tributed to the various Governments are
called national prototypes, and the same !
care will be taken to preserve them unal-
tered as is deemed necessary for the inter-
national standards.