The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-16
INQUIRY INTO
 METRIC SYSTEM
 REVEALS FAULTS
System Should Be Very Carefully Considered Be
 fore Adopted Here.

In view of the matter of course 1 metric system is being urged by Its friends, we confess to surprise at the strength of the case made out against It in 8. book which lies before us The Metric F'allacy, published by the American Institute of Weights and ! Measures of 115 Broadway, New York This Institute has been organized by leading manufacturers to combat the movement for the adoption of the metric system aud the book opens with a list of the officers and Council of the Institute which alone is suf- ncient to give the reader pause in his acceptance of the metric propaganda. We doubt if, as a collection of dis tinguished names, the list can be matched by any other American or ganization of any kind whatever for it is chiefly made up of presidents and past presidents of such organiza- tions as the American Society of Me chanicaI Engineers, the National As sociation of Manufactur CTS, the American Manufacturers Export As sociation, the National Metal Trades Association, the Society of Automo- tive Engineers, the Society of Naval ATCn1L6CIS dnu MdtII11 ILIlSlI1S6ISS etc.
 The book may be described as a collection of facts rather than of ar guments For example, one of it's leading chapters is entitled: The Me tric System in Latin America, where in is summarized the result of a la borious and pains-taking investiga- ton of the systems of weight and measure used In Latin American countries to the number of twenty. The chapter is a summary of first hand information obtained through a questionable which was circulated broadcast throughout Latin America and it is probably the most complete collection of information on it's sub iect extant. On it's face the result of the inquiry is to show the prevailing belief that the metric is the common system in those countries to have no foundation. In spite of the proforma adoption of the metric, the old Span ish system (which is very similar to the Englfsh) is the one in common use, although, in some of the coun- tries, we find that the English system has made surprising progress, the use of English units far exceeding that of the metric, while in all of the countries the English system is used to an extent that makes the people entirely familiar with it.
 A second leading chapter Is en- titled: The Metric System in Export Trade, and this again is the result of thorough investigation of the extent to which American exporters have found 1t necessary or advisable to make use of the metric system ir their export trade. This investigation like the first one, is a summary o1 the replies to a questionaire of which over 5000 were sent out to exporters and the reader-reg gard1ess of his pre- affection either for or against the metric system-w11l be surprised tc learn of the really trifling extent tc which the replies to the questionaire show 8 call for the use of the sys- tenn in export trade.
 In the broadest sense, the book i. investigation of the question: Is i feasible for this country to adopt tht metric system? The investigation ha been made by inquiring into the re suits of the many attempts that hay, been made to adopt the system ii other countries and the author claim as the result that in no country Gan, he makes no exception of France is the change complete while in mos of them he finds grotesque failure. H claims that the most favorable resul is nothing but 8 partial change tn old system continuing in use a1on with the new and leading to moth ing but hopeless compleHty, cor fusion and disorder.
 Without attempting to pass upo the case, we have endeavored to sta; the authors conclusions. We ma, however, without thus committin ourselves, express the conviction ths
 he has at least made out a case ths
 deserves attention and that the corY
 try should not adopt the metric sy,
 tenn thoughtlessly or because of tf
 enthusiasm with which 1t is bein
 urged, but that action should be pr, -n- Geded by thorough investigation.
 Under a new contract just signt
 y Willia ! Duncan with Albert