The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-27

new Kilograms should be constructed, and
should be the standards Of the countries
concerned. The object was to establish
international measures OF length and
mass. Many committees were appointed
Later a diplomatic conference was held 10
give the work the authority of law.
Bureau Is Established.
In 1915 a permanent international bu-
reau OF weights and measures was Gre
ated, The meter or new standard of
length, was made in London and Paris
London casting the metal, composed of
platinum and iridium. into a bar and
Paris shaping, finishing, and marking it.
Half a dozen famous chemists had
worked for several years to get q metal
of the proper purity and indestruct-
ability Their experiments opened new
fields of metallurgy and really developed
the alloy Of platinum and iridium. The
kilogram, the measure for mass. was
|eylindric in form, and was made Of the
same metal as the meter Thirty meters
and forty Kilograms were constructed and
distributed among the various countries
represented.
'One meter and one kilogram were de-
posted in q subterranean vault at the
building in the suburbs Of Paris set aside
by the French government for use. OF the
international Bureau OF Weights and
Measures. The building was originally
the summer home of one of the kings
Of France. It is now neutral ground.
There are three keys to the vault con
tanning the standards, and all must be
used when the vault is opened-one is IN
possession Of the director OF the bureau,
the second is held by the president of
the International committee. and the third
is IN the custody of the director of the
Museum Of Arts and Crafts
Two meters and two kilogTams-an
We're numbered and distributed by lot
were sent to the United States. George
Davidson, of the Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey, brought one Of the meters and one
of the Kilograms under seal from Paris
to Washington, and they were opened at
the White House by President Harrison
in January, 1890 The other meter and
kilogram were received several months
later. And those are the standards that
are locked up in a vault of this build
ing. From them we have made the
yard and pound-translating it might be
said, French into English. The stand
ards are carefully guarded, and are rare
ly touched by anybody. Copies of the
yard and pound are supplied the several
States upon request
"A troy pound to regulate the coinage
Of metal into money was obtained from
England in 1877" l said.
Yes" Dr. Stratton answered. and IT
is stlll kept at the mint in Philadelphia,
and. strangely enough. 1t remains the
lawful weight by which our coinage Is
governed. 1t Is made of brass and is
crude in all other respects. Albert Cal
latin, our Minister to Great Britain. OBJ
tanned it in London and sent it to this
country by a special messenger. John
Quincy Adams. President of the United
States. went TO Philadelphia. and. break
ing the seal, declared the weight to be a
copy Of the imperial troy pound of Great
Britain
'IS the manufacturer Of any measure
permitted to send whatever he makes to
the bureau to be tested?' L inquired.
'Of course DR.. STatton replied. we
couldn't undertake to test all the scales
Of a factory. but. as I have heretofore I
said, we will examine the standards By |
which the scales are made, and correct
them If they are found to be wrong"
There are several ways by which
is measured"
Yes; by Thermometers. where mercury