Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-23

| the ifleiTlCe system Dy france. The unit of
length in the metric system is called the
meter and was defined as the one ten
| millionth part of the distance from the
equator to the pole of the earth measured
on meridian. The first of these units to
be constructed was by the French gov
eminent. and was based on the best known
measurements of the earth's surface at
that time
The International congress was held in
Paris in 1915 for the purpose of improy-
| Ing the standards. Accordingly a number
OF meters were constructed of the best ma
| terial and by the best methods known to
science one OF these was selected as the
| international standard of length and is very
carefully preserved at the international bu-
reau of weights and measures established
and maintained by the countries participant
ing in the congress and those which have
Joined the convention later. These meters
were very carefully compared with the one
selected as the international standard and
then distributed to the countries interested
The unit of mass, or weight as if is com
monty called, Is the "kilogram,' and is
oenned as the mass of cubic decimeter
OF pure water at a standard temperature.
Inc international committee also pre-
pared forty pieces of metal equal in mass
to that of the cubic decimeter of water,
alike in form and of the same material as
the standard meter, the most permanent
metal Known. One of these was retained
at the international bureau of weights and
measures as the International kilogram.
Inc same precautions were observed in
| ~ SoiApdi ioOuS Will each OInGr ana with
the one selected as the international STAN
dard before distributing them to the re-
spect1ve governments OF the two meters
and two Kilograms sent to the United
states one OF each is preserved as the ma
tional standard of length and mass The
others are taken as working standards, and
serve as the basis of all comparisons of
length or mass in this country.
The fact that the meter is only approx
mately natural standard as originally in
TENDED mas sometimes been used as an OBJ
lection to the metric system. This how
ever, is of little Importance, since the meter
and the k1logram as constructed are as per-
manent as 1t Is possible to make material
standard and are far more accurate than
any measurements that can be made of the
earths surface. If at anytime a suitable
natural standard should be discovered the
meter would simply be defined in terms of
that standard as it originally was in terms
of the earth's quadrant.
Advantages of the System.
The advantages of the metric system may
be briefly stated as it's decimal character
throughout. the simple relations between
the units making it possible to derive all
others directly from the unit of length its
elasticity (being equally convenient for the
measurement of the smallest or largest OBJ
Jects), the ease with which 1t is learned and
remembered, the saving of time and the
increased accuracy with which computa-
tionS may be made.
These advantages have been proven by A
century of use, but that which especially
commends it to us at the present time is its
international character, since it is the opin-
ion of all who in a position to know
that the world must soon come to an inter-
national system of weights and measures
and that there is not the slightest posi-
bliIty of our own system or any modifica-
ton of 1t becoming universal
The countless transactions involving the
use of weights and measures makes any
proposition involving a change a most i'm
portant one. The decentralization of opr
own system of weights and measures has
been proposed by few who have failed to
consider the Importance of an international
system and the utter impossibility of the
rest of the world adopting such a system
as our own. however it may be improved in
form.
change of this sort would be incom-
parably more radical than the adoption of
the metric system. 1t has also been pro-
posed to modify the existing system to one
having base of eight or twelve on ac-
count of the possibility Of continued binary
subdivision, but here again not only is the
Importance of an International system
overlooked but the impracticable idea is
proposed of combining such a system with
a decimal system of numbers. When the
base of our system of numbers is changed
to some other than ten it will be sufficient
time to talk about system of weights and
measures having the same base.
1t should also be kept in mind that the
metric system is just as capable of a
binary subdivision as any other, although
the advantages of such division are only
apparent in the most ordinary business
transactions, and for the first few subdi-
visions.
After the adoption of the metric system
the use of the half and quarter meter and
half and quarter kilogram would be as
common as half and quarter dollar
Smaller quantities would be expressed in
decimais precisely the same as in the case
of our money.
General Adoption Of the System.
In 1866 Congress legalized the metric sys-
tenn. From that time OH it has been grow
ing in favor and in practical use. 1t is
here to stay, not only in scientific work.
but in commerce and manufacturing. 1t
is now used by about two-thirds of the
people of the world. Russia, Great Britain
and the United States are the only nom
metric countries Russia has gone so far
in the direction Of its adoption that IL may
well be excluded from the list leaving
Great Britain and the United States In
both of these it has been legal for some
time. Indications are that Great Britain
Over 800 members of parliament have al
ready signifed their willingness to vote to
make the use of the metric system COM
pulSory.
The report says. your committee be-
lieve the time has come for the gradual
retirement Of our confusing, Illogical, IT.
rational system and the Substitution of
something better The, first step i'm this di-
rection should be the introduction of the
metric weights and measures into the de-
partments Of the government. The use of
these weights and measures will simplify
their work 1t will famii.arize the people
with them and encourage their application
tn, he ,r,rx, rxz<av fFarx .fI