The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-02
BY DECIMALS
THE EXTENSION OF THE METRIC SYSTEM IN
ACTUAL USE.
. Ihe unIIs ol Ihs meLrIe 80.

on the units Of the metric system.
The metric system proper Is now
exclusively used BY the United States
Marine Hospital service. By the for
eign department Of the postofice. By
the United States coast and geodetic
survey, to some extent in the mint
United States signal service and
United States census department.
The formal adoption Of the metric
system has been repeatedly recon-
mended TO congress by several secre-
taries Of the treasury and Of state. It
has been asked for by the legislatures
of several states and many petitions
from both business and scientific men
have been presented to congress ask
ing for the passage Of such a law.
IN 1883 this country invited the re-
publics Of Central and South America
and Of Mexico. Hayti and San Domin-
go to a conference 10 be held at Wash
ington to consider. among other things.
the adoption Of a uniform system Of
weights and measures" The confer
enee was held, and it adopted. so far
as lay in its power, "a uniform system
of weights and measures" the metric
system. The delegates from the for
eign republics went home and almost
without exception procured the adop-
tion Of the metric system by the coun-
tries from which they came. Now they
find that the greatest nation Of all.
which originally invited them to the
conference. has so far failed to adopt
Its own suggestion.
oI.fa4fTo1n ali 10 he
adoption Of the metric system and
which has heretofore been strong
enough to prevent its adoption by con-
gress. is the fact that a change from
yards to meters and from pounds to
grams would upset business and throw
the world OF commerce into confusion.
TO this argument the advocates Of the
metric system file partial assent
They admit that Il would cause consid-
cradle inconvenience. but say that the
amount Of disturbance which would be
caused has been greatly overestimat- I
ed. IN proof they point to the expert
ence of other nations which have
adopted the metric system without Sc
riously incommoding business men. /
Their CHIEF argument in favor OF the /
Of the system lies in the great (
benefit and saving in study and time /
which would result to the generations
10 come after the metric system Is once
put into force
BY way Of preparing for a possible
change IN the future. school children /
are instructed I'm the metric system IN
many schools. so that they may be fa-
niliar with its terms. In some states
notably Utah, thorough instruction
n the metric system is made compuIs-
1ry. In England. also. the Importance
If the subject has been recognized In
he same way. The English govern
nent furnishes to the schools on de-
nand accurate copies OF its standards
Il metric measurement and weight.
md encourages IN every way the study
Il the system. Its general adoption all
'ver the world seems to be only a mat
er Of time.
The necessity Of having some gener-
lly recognized standard Of weight and
Is more easily recognized
Vhen It Is remembered that In ancient
lines many OF the standards were
ased on nothing more certain and un-
Manageable than the length Of a mans
orearm or the distance he could reach
nus, a cubit was the distance from
he point OF the elbow to the tip OF the
liddle finger; the fathom was the dis
ance a man could cover with the out
tretched arm; the original foot was
he distance from the heel to the end
( the great toe.