Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-04-16

employment Of the prefxes deca, hectic,
kilo, and myria(ten, hundred, thousand,
ten-thousand) from the Greek, and the
by deci, cento, and mill,
tenth, hundredth, thousandthl from the
Latin. Usually the measures of length
are expressed in metres and decimals of a
metre, Of capacity in liters and decimals
of liter; while in measures of weight
the gram is used in weighing small arti.
cles, the precious metals, medicines, ETC.;
the kilo2ram, or kilo in weighing grocer
les, and the tormean in weighing large
quantities. It will be noticed that each
of these systems, or parts of system, in
crease and decrease decimally; ten of one
kind making one of the next higher. In
square measure one hundred units of
each kind make one of the next higher.
In measuring land one hundred square
metres, or one square dekameter, is taken
as the unit and called an Are. In cubic
measure one thousand units of each kind
make one of the next higher. For wood
measure the c1bic metre is taken as the
unit and called a Stere. In reducing
numbers in the metric system from one
denomination to the other we simpy move
the separatrix from the right of the
given denomination to the right of the
denomination required and change the
name annexing or prefxing cyphers when
necessary. In denominations of length.
capacity and weight, we change the
point one place for each step in the re-
duction. In denominations of square
measure we change the point two places
for each step; and in cubic measure three
places.
There are a great many teachers in
our public schools who never teach or
attempt to teach the "mstric system"
There are, therefore, a great number, in
fact the majority of scholars in our pub
lie schools know absolutely nothing of
the metric system; and, what is more
don't want to learn anything of it. How
many times I have had scholars to say
I'VE will skip that, wont We? Why we
never studied that" I have asked why
they had not studied it and they said: Il
don't know but the teacher always said it
was dry, senseless stuff and didn't amount
to anything anyhow; and don't want to
study it if it is no use."
And then when they came to the class
they would repeat the table with who
overheard of-such- foolishness kind OF an
air; or claim that it was so hard that they
could not get it or understand the prob
lens.
A great many teachers also claim that
it is intricate and hard to understand. I
would like to ask such teachers to COM
pare LA 50. in. equals 50. it,, etc. with
100 SO. in. equal 1 are, 100 a. equal
centare. And the whole system of weight.
and capacity is just as simple
as this and viii compare favorably.
for one say we ought to study and to
teach the "metric system" because we do
know how soon We may be called upon to
use it in our every day life.
This is progressive age and to keep
up with the times we have to learn the
shortest, quickest, and easiest way, not
only of doing but of learning things.
How much easier, and quicker could q
,hild learn, yes and understand the
above table Of square measure according
70 the metric system than the one now in
use? How much time would be saved
laily in computations of weight and
measure in this country if the metric
system was substituted for the ones now
n use?
And 1 firmly believe it will be substi-
;uted and at no distant day. The system
g now used by most of the countries of
Continental Europe; it is used more or
ess by England and the South American
republics. It was adopted by congress
n 184S and has since been used in the
customs service of the United States.
It has been suggested that foreign ma
ions appoint commissioners to meet
Of this government at
Chicago during the Worlds Fair, for the
purpose of adopting an international
'ystem of weights and measures and I
rave no doubt that the metric system
viii be adopted
Report of district number %, 4th and
;th months, ending April 8, 1892.