New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-14
Mr.. SPENCER on the METRIC sY

Mr. SPENCER on the METRIC SYSTEM.
II is probable that the metric system VIII
ultimately he adopted by the civilized nations
Of the world. This will not be because 1t IS
ideally the best that could be devised. for II
Is not, but because it is the best thai stands
any likelihood Of supplanting those which are
now in use. 1t Is far and away better than
any one of them: but If that were not the case,
its adoption would be n good thing. for the
benefits resulting from the use of a uniform
international system of measurements would
outweigh the imperfections of any system
adopted. however serious they might be. II IS
10 be remembered moreover. that some OF the
defects Of the metric system are inherent in the
nature Of things. Its adoption Of the decimal
scale for instance. while undoubtedly com
mendabe on the score Of simplicity. cannot
always be carried out in practice. The solar
year does not lend itself TO decimal notation.
and the present division of days into twenty
four units is so firmly established that any re-
construction on the decimal scale would prove
impracticable The compass also refuses to
conform TO the decimal system. The intervals
between the four cardinal points are most nat
urally expressed not in divisions by tens, but
in the scale now universally in use
While, therefore, many enlightened men arc
advocating the adoption OF the metric system.
as on the whole the best available system. it is
not surprising to find that no less nm authority
than Herbert Spencer opposes II ms unsclen-
tiic. He has written number Of unsigned
letters on the subject to The London Times,
the substance Of which he has recast in an
article which appears in 'rhe Popular Science
Monthly In this article he maintains that
the metric system Is quite rs arbitrary and
therefore quite as unscieLtiic. as those which
1t aims to dispacc, and what is more important
practically. he strives 10 show that il would be
incOnyenlcnt ana impracticable as a working
system. As long ago As 1863 Sir John Her
schel took this ground when bill was intro
duced in the British Parliament TO establish
the French metric system. Mr.. Spencer quotes
Mr. Hazen. Of the United States Weather Bu-
reau as declaring that the whole English
speaking world would revolt against the cent?
grade scale Of marking thermometers. He add
cd moreover that all publications in which this
scale is used contain numerous errors Sir
Frederick Bramwcll is also quoted as saying
that the metric system. or rather its decimal
scale. Is Incompatible with mental arithmetic,
demands more figures than the present sys-
TEN. and is likely to produce error.
These are scientific opinions, and may be re-
gardcd. perhaps. as somcw hat academic. II
will be held that the merchants and business
men are coming to prefer the metric system,
and it is their view which finally will be de-
cisve. But Mr.. Spencer thinks that business
men show no desire 10 adopt the system II
was established in France more than a century
ago yet even In France the old rotations have
not disappeared. while in other countries there
Is no popular demand for II. as there would
he II ii were plainly better than the existing
systems. Most business men who are in favor
Of the metric system. Mr.. Spencer says. are
doing n large wholesale business, in which the
announcement subdivisions Of the proposed sys
TEN would not come into use. Men who do
business in a small way. as we'll working
men, have not spoken in favor OF the metric
system, and Mr. Spencer believes that they
would find it complex and impracicable.
Instead of trying to make the decimal scale
universal. which cannot be done Mr. Spencer
proposes what might he called Il twcvc-nOta-
ton system This number divides itself readily
into aquot parts. and one of its mutiples,
sixty, can be divided by ten different numbers.
The all-lmportant feature in any system of
measurement is It's dvsibiliy into aliquot
parts, and Mr.. Spencer believes that twelve
notation gives far better results in that respect
than the decimal system. While his opinion
may not ultimately prevail. it IS well worthy
the attention of those who are Interested in
the discussion Of the subject.