The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-14

from which all our measures Of length
and mass are derived. are stored In the
same building near the capitol The
standard OF mass - cylindrical shaped
piece OF whi;ish metal about the size Of
"a tennis ball. The standard o. length is
bar OF the same silycr-liko metal about
three feet long and a little less than an
inch square. Each face Il deeply grooved.
ana In ono OF tht grooves at either end
Is a polished spot on which three delicate
hair lines are marked. The middle one OF
these lines determines the end OF the bar.
The bar Is standard metrc. and the
cylindrical weight Is a standard kilogram-
The material from which they are made
g. mixture Of platinum and Iridium, the
latter being added 10 give additional hard
ness to the metal which above an others
Is recognized as the most durable. The
value Of the metal alone in this prototype
OF the standard metre Is over $780, but
Il has a much greater value from the
labor expended In making Il perfectly ae-
curate. The kloEram aud metre proto-
types are the results OF fifteen years Dor
by a joint congress OF scientists. 81. rted
BY seventeen OF the leading civilized rat
ions. The International Metric Convention
was organized ia 1876. and on Jan. ..
1890 the President of the United States
broke the seal OF the standard kilogram
and metre which fen TO the share OF this
country. and in the presence OF the Sec
Rotary OF the Treasury ana number Of
invited guests, assembled in the cabinet
room Of The Executive Mansion. declared
them officially adopted.
These originals have been used but once
since. This was when very accurate
copy was made from each for practical
use by the government bureau IN regulat-
ing the standard weights aud measure
OF the country. The original kilogram
was then placed under two glass bell Jars
which were locked and scaled. No human
hand has touched the kilogram since q lef;
the makers IN Paris; what little handling
has been necessary has been done with
a pair Of SPECIAL forccps covered with soft
chamols skin. This Is 10 prevent increase
OF weight by the adhesion OF minute
quantities OF foreign substance or
decrease OF weight by a abrasion Il has
not been found necessary TO exercise an
equal degree OF care IN preserving the
standard metre; "A little moisture or dirt
would not lengtAen or shorten the metal
iio bar. Nevertheless Il Is kept in a case
OF velvet surrounded with wood and pro-
tocted on the outside by a heavy iron
cylinder with "A screw cap. IL IL removed
only on special occasions.
The only generally legal standard OF
weights and measures IN the United States
Is the metric system. on July q 1855.
Congress passed an act making the metric
system lawful throughout the United
States and defining the weights and meas
ures IN common use In terms Of the units
OF this system. The government mint.
however. has a system Of IS own. By n
special act OF Congress passed In ls2s the
Troy pound was made the standard for
weighing the government bullion. and a
49, Na
London. and made by Gallatn, was de
ciared standard.
Some Unappreciated supplies.
Although there has been no adequate
legislation on the subject. the government
attempts On a haphazard sort OF way 10
supply the states with accurate standards
OF the ordinary paund. bushel and gallon
used In everyday commercial transactions
Each state Is supposed 20 have a full set
OF the government prototypes. and the
bureau at Washington Il now engaged 81
making two sets. for recently admitted
states Of the far west Each state Ia sup
posed 10 have an official sealer OF weight
aud measures with corps OF inspectors
under him. and then each municipality or
township Is supposed 20 have its duty ap-
pointed authorities who have their work
Ing copies OF the standard measures and
who zee that tradesmen do not employ
false scales In dealing out their wares
10 the people
That is the theory OF a. the way Il
works out Ia practice Is very different.
The state and local functlonaries arr very
likely to be politicians with small rever-
ence for scientific accuracy and little heed
for the duties OF their Office. The care
fully worked out standards which are
furnished by the government are usually
stored In cellars or unused vaults and
their very existence forgotten. In one OF