The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-02

/ ures IN the United States. is simply an.
other in long line OF attempts 10 sap
. plant the present awkward system bs
the easy and simple metric or decimal
system. Though the bill has been re-
ported favorably by the committee on
weights and measures, il has still a
hard fight before 1t. The chances foI
IFS adoption are said 70 be not the
brightest.
In one sense the United States may
be said 10 have been even before
France in the adoption OF at least a
portion Of the metric system. In 1885
congress adopted the decimal system Of
money, with the dollar as the unit
whereas the metric system proper was
not adopted BY France until 1895. The
basis Of the metric system. the meter.
was determined by two eminent French
astronomers and mathematicians. and
Is exactly one forty -millionth part Of
the circumference Of the earth on the
meridian Of Paris The meter Is 337
inches longer than the American yard.
II Is the standard Of the measures Of
length aud all other measures are based
upon it. Thus the metric unit Of sur
face measure is the centare. which is
one square meter. The unit OF capacity
is one liter. which is the cube of one
tenth Of meter The unit OF weight
is the gramme. which Is the weight Of
q cube centimeter of water.
A standard meter was constructed IN
1893 by an international commission
representing France Holland, Sweden.
/ Switzerland. Denmark. Spain. Savoy
and the Roman, Cisalpine and Ligurian
]
and was deposited In the Palace of
Archives in Paris to be the definite
basis OF the metric system forever.
The use Of the metric system was
declared obligatory in France on Nov
2. 1901, but the French people were not
prepared FOR so sudden change. and
In 1912 a compromise was adopted
which lasted until 1887. In that year a
law was passed making the use Of the
metric system obligatory, and ordered |
its enforcement after January. 1840 |
At present il is universally used by |
France. as well as by all European ma
tions except Great Britain. where IL Is |
allowed but not compulsory Russia /
was the last Of the great powers to /
make the change. having put the me-
trio system into force only a few weeks /
ago. On this continent the metric sys-
tenn has been adopted by Mexico, Bra
iii, Chill, Peru and other Of the South
and Central American republics At 1
the present time England and the
United States are left practically alone
as the only two civilized nations which
have not adopted the decimal system
Of weights and measures.
As early as 1917 the subject OF adopt-
ing the metric system IN the United
States was agltated. John Quincy
Adams. it is recalled by the Chicago
Tribune. was appointed to investigate
the weights and measures OF the
United States and he found that the
STANDARDS Of weight. measure and ca
pacity differed considerably in the diff
ferent states. and even in the same
state. He reported fully on the result
Of his investigation. and did not favor
the adoption Of the French or metric
system because Of the popular repug-
nance to change and the inconven-
ience which would follow the adoption
Of new system. Al the same time he
declared his belief that the metric sys- n
tenn was almost ideal and reflected the
greatest credit on the men and on the
age which had devised it.
IN 1880 another investigation was
made, and it again was found that a
pound or a yard in one state or city
was often more or less than in an
other. AS a result. the treasury de-
partment was authorized and instruct
ed TO have made copies Of the stand
ards Of weight and measure then in its
possession, a set Of which copies were
10 be delivered to the governor of each
state in the Union.
In 1866 1t was made. by an act OF
congress. lawful to employ the weights
and measures Of the metric system
throughout the United States. and the
secretary Of the treasury was INSTRUCT
ed to furnish to the governor Of each
state set Of standard weights and
measures of the metric system for the
use Of the respective states.
Under the regulations OF the inter-
national postal convention the metric
system was adopted as the standard In
an transactions between the nations
which are members Of the postal union.
and accordingly the mail matter trans .
ported between the United States and
fifty other countries. including even
the mail sent between the United
States and England. is weighed and
paid for entirely in terms Of the metric
system.
In 1875 a convention was held By {
Of practically all the {
civilized nations except England. at
which "a scientific and permanent bu- q
reau Of weights and measures" was I
established az Paris the expenses Of {
which are paid by an the powers party y
10 the convention. Great Britain has J
since become a party to this confer I
snce. and in common with the United a
States pays its share OF the expenses b
lf the bureau I
One duty o. the International bureau }
n weights and measures Is to furnish ]
sxact and correct copies or duplicates q
lf the standards Of weight and meas n
are to The several countries which con- 4
ribute to its support. These new
standards were supplied TO the United
states and were received by tho presi-
lent and his cabinet with considerable 3