Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-20
WEIGnTSAND MEASURES
Advantages of New System Ex-
planned by Professor Reeve.
TO THINK IN DOZENS THE KEYNOTE

decimal Figures.
A new system of weights and meas
ures somewhat similar to the duodeci-
NAL system proposed several years ago
and almost forgotten and having many
advantages, its author declares, over
the metric system now before congress-
was suggested by Sidney \. Reeve, pro
! fessor of mechanical engineering in the
| Worcester (MaSs) Polytechnic insti-
tute, before the American Society of
| Mechanical Engineers the other night,
says the New York Times. The meet
| ing, the first of the forty-siXth annual
| session of the society, was held in the
| rooms of the organization at New York.
Think in dozens"' is the keynote of
! Professor Reeves suggestion. All num-
| bers in the system he believes he has
| almost perfected are to be handled duo
| decimally. The mechanical engineers
who were his auditors could under
| stand his plan perfectly, and they dis
| cussed it vOlubly, but TO the layman it
| appears somewhat intricate. In order
that the public might understand the
| proposed change Professor Reeve gave
| this explanation of it:
1T consists of taking as Il standard
the English yard, which is the stand
ard of length of all English speaking
peoples, and treating that exactly as
the meter is treated in the metric sys-
TEN, except that the divisions are on
| the duodecimal system to suit the duo
decimal numbers instead of the decimal
system to suit the decimal numbers.
in, init of
which are exactly equal TO those now
in use in the machine shops; also in Il
unit of volume corresponding TO the
meter, which is practically equal to the
existing pint. This new pint, which is
a cube measuring three inches on each
edge, when filed with distilled water
weighs within 2l2 per cent of the pres
ent standard pound.
In further instance, the standard
yard multiplied by 1000 (Which is the
duOdecimal expression for 1T2S deci-
NAB very closely equals the statute
mile. In short, the new system of
units, which is as beautifully core
lated as are the measures of the met
ric system by means of one and CT
pliers. present no appreciate altera-
ton from existing standards"
Speaking of the effect the change
would have on money, Professor Reeve
said that if the arithmetical notation
and the standard of weights and meas
ures unite in becoming purely duOdeci-
NAL in character the monetary system
is bound to follow. This proposition,
he declared, would not be so revOlu-
tiOnary as would appear at first sight.
The standard of value, the dollar, and
all its unit representations would re-
main unchanged.
"AH bills of 50 or higher denomina-
tions would naturally be called in and
their equivalent issued in denomina-
tions of three, six dozen, gross dol
lars, etc. But this process could be as
gradual as desired. Under duOdecimal
notation five and ten dollar bills would
be incOnvenient, but they would be
disable.
''As to coins,'' continued Professor
Reeve. the half dollar and quarter
dollar would remain unchanged. The
dime. nickel and the cent would have
to be retired. IN their place would be
issued fractional currency under the
following plan:
dollar 10 bits Gone dozen bits of 1-3
cents value eaCh).
bit 10 greats.
1 great - 10 grets (for purposes where
the mill is now used).
The probable coins would be:
Silver half dollar Z so cents) = bits
80 greats
Silver quarter & % cents bits 80
greats.
silver bit & SIS cents) 1 bit 10
greats.
Nickel half bit Z 10 cents) X 6 greats.
Copper quarter bit piece 4 1-12 cent9 |
- greats.
Copper groat & O.7OS3 cents).
Change for a quarter" explained |
Professor Reeve, could ordinarily be |
had in single convenient denomina- |
ton that is, in three silver bits -
whereas now IT requires two denomina-
tions, dimes and nickels. to make it.
The practical objections to relying up
on nickels alone for changing quarters |
are obvious. The progress of business
toward finer margins and lower prices
is steadily making the cent too large
for many retail transactions. The small
er value of the groat harmoniZes with
this need
The duodecimal system, as proposed
by Professor Reeve, necessitates the in
PRODUCTION of two new numbers. They
are inserted by him between the and
the 10. The first is a peculiar looking
combination of the figure l and the o
and is called the dek; the second is like
an inverted 3 and is called an elm.
Thus when our decimal 10 is reached
it signifies a dozen. Professor Reeve
has complied some interesting new
names for his duodecimal numbers,
such as ''dozone" 0hirteen), ''fitze' Give
DOZEN, 'twOdz-nine" two dozen and
nine), etc. This. of course, brings in
the use of the dek and elm. and he has
"dedz" (dek DOZEN, etc.
Hornets Nests In Demand.
Postmaster Cox OF Delaware. o., re-
Gently received from New York an Of |