Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-18
BY METRIC SYSTEM THE
WORLD IS TO MEASURE


WASHINGTON. Aug. 16.-Advocates Of
the metric system IN the United States
see in the action of the colonial confer
ence in favor Of compulsory use Of the
metric system the early adoption Of that
system by the United States. While It
may be true that the action Of the colon
ial conference does not apply to Great
Britain proper, its sentimental influence
will be very great indeed. With the Brit
ish parliament strongly in favor of the
metric system and 259 of it's members alb
solutely on record in favor Of 1t, there IS
little doubt in the minds of American ex-
ponents of this modern system that it's
world wide adoption is almost at hand.
Forty-three countries of the world in
GLIDING France, Russia and Germany, and
a host Of lesser nations, now use the met
ric system. The British empire is half
committed. The United States Is on the
threshold In its congress there is a bin
favorably reported and on the house cal
endar for early consideration. Represent
alive and advanced thinkers in every bus
mess and profession in this country have
endorsed the proposition to change the
weights and measures Of the United
States to conform with French standard.
Opposition to the proposed change was
based principally on two grounds:
First. the hesitation of Great Britain to
revolutionize her system of weights and
might result in the transitory period if the
change was made too quickly.
The action of the colonial conference and
the favorable attitude Of the British parli-
ament insures beyond reasonable doubt
the adoption of the metric system by
Great Britain and her colonies. With the
tremendous commerce between the United
States and Great Britain the adoption Of
the metric system by this country and the
refusal to adopt it by the English would
have been confusing beyond measure for
at least a time. With Great Britain COM
mitted substantially to the metric system
the United States in the very nature or
the case. will find it most advantageous
to forsake the old arbitrary standard for
that of the decimal system. Thus the
greatest opposition to the present bill
falls of it's own weight.
That confusing would result from too
hasty transition from the present sys-
tenn to the metric standard is not denied.
The present bill, however, provides that
the government of the United States shall
adopt the new system January l. 1904, and
that four years from that date the use Of
the metric standards in all weights and
measures in this country shall be compul-
sorry by the people as well.
Even those unfavorable to the metric
system admit that this will give ample
time for all to accomplish the change with
little confusing. small discomfort, espe-
cially no pecuniary loss. Should the bill
now pending become a law it is more than
probable that the United States will en-
Joy the experience of Austria, when that
country changed to the decimal system.
Before the optional period had passed and
long before the date of compulsory adop-
ton all Austrians were gladly using the
metric standards.
In all the agitation for the adoption of
the metric system the treasury depart
ment of the United States has been pio-
neer. Today it's bureau of standards,
recognized and modernized, stands ready
to offer every assistance incidental to the
introduction of the metric system. If
Il were deemed wise to change the stand
ards of weights and measures over night
the bureau OF standards is in a position
to lend magnificent assistance. Without
neglecting the current work before it the
bureau is planning for the future and de-
veloping its resources, that when the time
comes it may be able to standardize with
out delay the weights and measures of the
new system.
Few persons in the United States. COM
paratively, realize that now every cleo
trical standard in constant use in this
country is based upon the metric sys-
tenn. There is no other standard. The
money of the United States, a model of
simplicity, as on decimal basis. A COM
parisOn of our coinage with that of the
complicated forms of many of the Euro
pean countries brings home to American
tourists the benefit of the simple system.
/ With the electrical standards and the
coinage of the United States upon deci-
NAL basis, there is nothing left but the
weights and measures to which to apply
the metric system. Simplicity and direct
ness recommend that this be done.
Well nigh universal, therefore, the
adoption of the metric system by Great
Britain will almost compel the United
States TO accept the international stand
ard. AS a growing factor in the commerce
of the world and meeting the new and
fercer competition upon the International
/ bargain counter this country must heed
measures for it's wheat and weigh its steel
according to the standard of its competi-
tors.