Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-02-01

so many years professor of natural
sciences in Que of our great collegiate
institutions. he knows all of the difficult
ties which the scientist meets i'm at
tempting to determine temperature ac-
curately. First, it j. necessary to
select as an instrument of measurement
some substance which j. liquid AT ALI
ordinary temper atures, mercury being
generally conceded 10 be hes, for all
except very low aud very high temper
aturcs. But no substance expands uni
formly at all temperatures, the cocf-
ticicrt of expansion of mercury VARYING
rapidly for temperatures above 500 de-
grees So the scientist. in order 10 ar
rive at true temperatures, must not
take the readings of his thermometer,
but must make "A mathematical cOmpu-
tation, and allow for deviations which
will otherwise yitiate his results. The
coeilicient of expansion of mercury and
the coeilicient of expansion Of glass
(for the containing tube) are two vari-
able quantities which must enter the
computation. If the bore in the tube
be not uniform, then another element,
very difficult 10 estimate, must enter
the computation. For very high tenn
peratures, mercury will not do and
some solid metal must be used; and
still more variable elements enter the
computation. SO, likewise, for very
low temperatures a different substance
must be selected, as alcohol, or some
gas: and other elements Of variation
are 10 be allowed for. And if il Is 50
difficult TO determine temperature de-
peLding on the laws and properties Of
gross matter. comparatively fixed and
stable. what must be the difficulty in
determining so intangible a relation as
value, depending as it does not only on
varying external physical conditions,
but as well on the seemingly erratic
and wholly capricious attributes of the
human mind included under the term
wants
Physically considered, gold is an un-
suitable substance to be used as a
measure of value, as no metal Is more
variable in its production when taken
for long series of years. When COM
pared with silver the production of
gold is extremely variable For exam
pie, more gold was produced from $50
to 1873, % years, than in the 3j7 years
preceding That Is, the production
was more than II times as rapid dur
inc the latter period. As all mono
metalhsts agree with bimetalliSts that
prices of all things depend on the law
of supply and demand, can a substance
which huctuates so widely in its sup
ply be a good standard of value; We
believe Brother Osband must agree
with Us that it cannot. As to uniform
ity Of production, silver is far more
stable. and in this respect is better
standard of value.
On the other side-the subjective
side, the mind-the argument is again
in favor Of silver: for it cannot so easily
be controlled. Wants make prices
value-and when the major portion of
the gold is in the bank vaults, it can be
made plentiful or scarce by the con-
certed action of a few; its value is thus
dependent on volition. Again, when
gold alone is made redemption money,
all other kinds of money and debts
must be liquidated in gold Thus
many more want gold than would if
both silver and gold were redemption
money; and increased wants or de-
mand raise the value of the commodity,
gold.
1t is somewhat difficult to estimate
exactly the fluctuations in value of
silver and gold, and the difficulty in
estimating exact temperatures, a illus
trated by the thermometer, is intensi-
fled by the fact that many more limit
ing and modifying conditions must be
taken into computations. Sauerbeck's
tables probably do not take into con-
sideration all the elements of the prob
lem, and may leave the extent OF gold
appreciation somewhat uncertain; but
that the appreciation is great no sane
man can deny.
We must dissent from Brother Osband
when he says that Mr.. Garnet has
shown that the standard has nothing to
do with prices. 1t does not require
any great augmentation to show that
II has all IN do with nrirrs Sunnosp