New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-16
THE METRIC SYSTEM IA TORED
A REPORT on THE SUBJECT TO BE PRE-
SENTED TO CONGRESS.
THE COMMITTEE HAVING THE MATTER IN
CHARGE RECOMMENDS TEE CHANGE-IT is
SIMPLE AND WOULD DO AWAY WITH

CHARGE RECOMMENDS TEE CHANGE-lT Is
SIMPLE AND WOULD DO AWAY WITH
PRESENT INCONSISTENCIES.
Washington March 15.-An Interesting report has
heen made by Charles ". Stone. OF Pennsylvania.
in favor Of bill for the adoption OF the metric
svste.d OF weights and measures. which has been
eor sone weeks before II, House Committee on
Coinage Weights and Measures. The troy pound
o, the Mint Is resorted to as the only source from
which to derive the avoirdupos pound for common
use and yet tbs troy pound. while answering the
nurnoses OF comparison In the Mint. s Of uncer-
tain accuracy. The primary standard OF leng'h'
the three barley corns, round. plump and dry.
which make an inch proves but an indefinite
guide.
The size OF quart gallon. bushei ana bar-
rel Is elastic or adjustable the report says ana
depends on the commodity to be measured tAe
place where 1t Is measured. and formerly III fehh-
sv,vanio AT least the purpose and persons for
whom measured on the statute books or that
State NAV be found old law providing that all
innkeepers shall sell beer and ale by wine meas
ure TO all per- ons drink In the. houses. ana oy
beer measure 70 all persons as carry the same out
of their houses Vermont. however. seems 10 nave
reached the climax of absurdty when she provides
nv comparatively recent legislation stu IN force
that In measuring certain specified commodities
one bushel and three-quarters OF a peck shall be
deemed a bushel
THE barrel OF oil or cider In Pennsylvania. ONO.
and many other States according 70 l"Sa provi'
sion contains 3llk gallons but In actual TACT IL con-
tains 40 or ~ gallons. The gallon OF milk in New
York contains 2sl cubic inches. and In Minnesota
II is fixed by law at 49, The standard bushe! used
by the United States in the Custom houses and
furnished as standard to the various states Is
per cent smaller than the standard bushel OF G'ea,
Britain The bushel OF oats varies from % POUNDS
in Marylard TO 96 pounds In Oregon and Washing
ton. The bushel Of barley weighs 81 pounds In
Louisiana and 30 in California. The laws OF New
york and Oregon make " pounds OF buckwheat
q bushel. while taose of Minnesota and Nebraska
cal for 90 pounds and Kentucky IS pounds The
h,sbs, of rye weighs ~ pounds In Louisiana. but
crows TO IS pounds in Ohio. Potatoes weigh 30
mounds to the bushel in Washington 10 IN fehh-
.vlyan,a and so In Ohio. In Main" ~ pounds make
q bushel of apples. while % are required In WIS
consn bushel OF salt weighs % poSnds in Vir-
gInia and several OF the States, bat reac;es 20 N
Massachusetts, and brings down the scales al d
Strong arguments are then advanced in The re-
nort FOR the adoption of the uniform metric sys-
lem The simplicity Of the system II says; rs one
oy tnd OF weight and measure. and the methol
NJ written expression is the one OF orohaiy M u
meIciai nd from that are derived by the simplest
process not only measurements OF extension o"'
Oh psserr,ne 10 me objection that the words and
terms OF the metric system are ,shs hs, ,Ss
tr n are not simply for American use; 'hey are
for all nations go ... ,ba- r,,ioos excep,
I'M Ine uherc vaciIlating legislation and revoli-
ionary disorders moeded the work rave Gam me
change OF systems has been SURPRISING uerma a,
cnnas,od n tho compulsory system IN two yea' .
nd austria in three. and both without friction OF
trouble. ., -, ,bo committee is thai
the metric system OF weights and of he Cow
De auUp' though not deeming Il wis. TO chrhse
the methods Of s%fvey ha Rs0 ADOPTION by @
recon,mets no nxed for July ]. 1883. ana py !ne
%ation at large concident with the dawn % '"'
;;,wsntath century. January l. iSe'