The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-12-17
WEICHTSAND MEASURES
Advantages of New System Ex-
planned by Professor Reeve.
TO THINK IN DOZENS THE KEYNOTE

All Numbers Are to BE Handled Duo
decimally-Effect of the Change on
Our Currency-SOme Interesting
New Names Compiled For the Duo
decimal Figures.
A new system Of weights and meas
ures, somewhat similar to the duodec1-
mai 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 A. 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 dozensv' 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 1t
appears somewhat intricate. In order
that the public might understand the
proposed change Professor Reeve gave
this explanation of it:
'It consists of taking as 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.
This results in small units of length
which are exactly equal to those now
in use in the machine shops; also in a
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 filled with distilled water
weighs within 2b per cent of the pres
ent standard pOuuu.
"In further instance, the standard
yard multiplied by '1000..' (Which is the
duodecimal expression for 172S decl-
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 cl-
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.
"All bills of S. 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.
LAS to COINS" continued Professor
Reeve, 1.-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 Zone dozen bits of 1-3
cents value each).
! bit < 10 greats.
1 groat x 10 grets (for purposes where
afe mill is now used.
The probable coins would be;
Silver half dollar L SO cents) - bits
so greats
Silver quarter 4 Is cents * bits e 30
greats.
Silver bit & S1-S cents) = bit q 10
greats.
Nickel half bit & 4 1-6 cents) = 6 greats
Copper quarter bit piece & 2 LIZ cents)
- 3 greats.