Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-15
The Proposed Metric system.

fhc Proposed Metric System.
10 the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sill understand that IA bill will
he introduced in Congress providing
Tor the substitution of tho metric
system of weighing and measuring
Tor our present system
TO this substitution. /, rs State Su-
pcrintcndcnt OF Weights and Meas
urcs, am opposed.
Naturally the units of weights and
measures adopted by primitive pco-
pies were TO IA great degree impcr-
rect; but as trade and civilization
was pushed forward more accurate.
standards became necessary.
Their selection was left almost ia
chance, $50 that they have differed
from town to town, from county IA
county and from State to stat. and
we had mixture of money and
weight standards In this country nm
III the system was established com
pntinI money In dollars and cents
etc, ana weights and measures by
pound. ounce, yard. feet. inches. etc
ana the same has prevailed since Its
adoption ana has proven satisfactor.,
as far as | know.
Let us. therefore. stick To yhnt
IDEAS. methods and laws enacted ANA
followed by our forcfathcrs. and nm
der which our country has pros
p"rcd abundantly and grown into an.
"t inc greatest governments on thu.
earth
AS l" tho Introduction OF tho
metric system. AZ far AK my in
formation goes. am opposed To !,
as cannot soc what advantage win
accrue To the United states bv liza
adoption or by II change In our
weighing and measuring apparatus
would Xix" to have il explained -
inc following equivalents will have
l" b" substituted il the metric sys
tenn is adopted. and how long 4, viii
YAK" to teach our people the use
OF IT,
In the following tables I Will show
some metric equivalents that will
nave to hc substituted a. follows.
present system and metric system
Inch. 254 millimcters
Yard. 9i4.i millimctcrs.
Wine gallon. 1885 il,crv.
troy or apothccarics pound. :73c
grams.
Pound avoirdupois. i535s grams
Mile. 1909 kilomc,ers.
ADothccarics dram, ASS CRANE
Apothccaries or troy ounce. 3l.lO2
Crane.
Pint twinc mcasurc). .i72 li,ers.
quart t"ine m.asurc). .giG li,.rs
Foot. 30i.S miilimetcrs.
Fathom. lisa meters
f"ie or rod OK yards). 5cea
meters
Fnrlong 90 rodsp. 2oiis meters
Hand q inchcs), l0i6 millirnctcrs
Surface measure:
square foot. s2eOs square cent?
meters.
SQUARE yard. sacla square cent?
meters.
snuare pole or rod 25.2o square
meters.
square rood GO square rodD.
l0li.7 square meters.
Acre +O46.s7 square meters.
Square mile. 2.5so.oss square
meters.
Solids:
Cubic foot. 2s.2l7 cubic cen,imc,crs
Cubic yard, 76i.559 cubic cent?
meters
Rushcl hv weight:
tt. 81 Wheat tGo Ite). 27.2i k!lo.
grams.
a.. 81 Corn. shcllcd CO lbs1. 25.4o
Kilograms.
a.. - Rye CSC ihs). $50 kilo-
grams.
a. 81 oats (a2 lbs). 1851 kilo-
grams.
a.. 50 Potatoes go lhsD. e7.2l
Kilograms
VaD Glover eco ibs). 27.2i kilo-
grams.
CvaD Alfalfa $50 lbs), 27.2l kfo-
grams.
CIV. Na) Broomcorn seed C57 lbs ).
25.S5 Kilograms
vaD cotton seed go lbs.). 1851
a.. s. Flax seed Csc lbs.). 25.4O
Kilograms.
'VaD Hungarian grass seed as
ihSp. 2l77 Kilograms.
wv. NaD Sorghum seed (57 lleD ,
2j.S1 Kilograms.
Will rccite one instance where
complications will result by use OF
metric equivalents, as follows: y
hushei OF wheat of GO pounds becomes
21.2l Kilograms per 4046.sT square
meters. and If land is measured By
the hcctarc 10000 square metcrs)
the bushels per acre becomes G7.23
Kilograms per hcctarc.
If. however. the old weight bushcl
is abolished and metric standard
substituted. the metric equivalent OF
the present bushel per acre would
depend on the metric unit that was
adopted.
My information is that n problem
OF compound units will arise In most
industries. and that II will be par
ticularly difficult in textile manufac-
turing, where sizes Of yarn and
weight OF cloth arc expressed in
yards per pound or In pounds per
yard. and in view OF this informa-
tion. along with the complexity OF
the metric system, l would be loath.
without further enlightenment, to
approve the substitution of the
metric system for that now in vogue
in the United states
Yours very truly.
JNO. w. RICHARDSON.
Register and state Superintendent OF
Weights and Measures
Richmond. Va. October -. 1921.