Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-12-10

ghey Are So Delicate That They Have
he Carefully Protected.


ghsy Arc So Delicate That Tbey Have to
BE Carefully Protected
The collection OF standard weights
and measures preserved In the fireprooi
building OF the coast and geodetic sur
, vey IN Washington is described by q
correspondent Many OF them are now
Of purely historical interest. the more
recent ones only being accepted rs alb
solute standards
Among the weights are the cruder
ones originally used in this country as
standards.
Three are of special interest. One,
which is nearly cylindrical IN shape,
with slight groove around its upper
part, is known as the gilt pound. and
it represents the British unit Of weight.
The committee kilogramme" is n brass
weight, and is one Of a number made
at the same time under the charge of
the French committee that near the
end of the last century established the
original metric standards of measure.
ment.
Its true weight was within one-halt
milligram at the furthest 1t is cyl
inder fifty-three millimeters in diane
ter, the height being equal to the di-
ameter The committee had peculiar
stamp, which consisted of an eclipse,
supposed to represent a meridian sec
ton of the earth, with three quadrants
shaded, and with the figures 10, 600, geo
marked within the unshaded quadrant
near its outer perimeter. That stamp
is impressed on the bottom of the kilO-
gram The metal now has minute
holes.
A weight known as the Arago plati-
nun kilogram is cylindrical in shape.
Albert Gallatin, when minister to
France in 1921, procured it, In 1879 it
was compared with the platinum kilo-
gram, and its specific gravity was de-
termined by CLANCY. In 1914 it was
taken to Paris for comparison with the
international standard.
The national prototype kilogram is
kept under glass case 1t was con-
structed by the cooperation of the
principal governments of the world as
represented by delegates at a conven-
ton in Paris in 1872 The standard
meters and Kilograms established by
them were reproduced and distributed
by them in 1889. The reproductions
are termed national prototypes.
For the preservation of the original
international prototypes subterranean
vault has been provided in Paris to pro-
tect them from accident and against
any sudden or great change in the tenn
perature that might cause a change in
the molecular structure of the metal
Three different keys to the locks of the
vault are under the charge of three in
dividuals The American national pro-
totypes are preserved with similar pre-
cautions in Washington
The kilogram is of standard alloy
of 80 per cent. platinum and 10 per
cent. iridium, with tolerance of 2 per
cent in excess of deficiency. The form
is that of a cylinder, with slightly
rounded edges, it's height being equal to
its diameter The national prototype
meter is of the same alloy as the kilo-
gram The bar 1.02 m. long.
The ceremony of breaking the seals
of the prototype meter and kilogram
took place in the White House in the
presence of President Harrison, Secre-
tary Blaine, Secretary Window and a
distinguished company Jan. 2, 1890.
The apartments we're represented by
officials who signed memorial to the
effect that they had witnessed the cere-
mony.
The standard yard as supplied by
the government to the states, consists
of a yard proper and template that
protects the terminal points.