6017. Value of Metric Measures of Length in Long Measure

6017. Value of Metric Measures of Length in Long Measure.

Miles. Yds. Ft. Inches. Myriametre =6 376 1 2 Kilometre =           1093 1 11

Hectometre =             109 1 1.1

Dekametre =              10 2 9.71

Metre              =                1 0 3.371

Decimetre =                               3.937

Centimetre =                                 .394

For general purposes, or small calculations, the following equivalents will be found sufficiently accurate : 1 millimetre is equal to 1/25 inch; 1 centimetre is equal to 2/5 inch; 1 decimetre is equal to 3 9/10 inches; 1 metre is equal to 391/3 inches; 91/100 metre is equal to 36 inches or 1 yard.

The fundamental unit of all the decimal weights and measures is the Metre; the standard length of which is the 1/10000000 of a quadrant of the earth's meridian, equivalent to 39.371 inches. The unit of dry and liquid measures of capacity is the Litre, which is the 1/1000 of a cubic metre, and contains 61.028 cubic inches. These figures are as exact as a calculation involving twelve places of decimals will bring it. The government standard, adopted as sufficiently correct for all practical purposes, is 61.022 cubic inches; this is based on a metre of 39.3685 inches, which would make the gram 15.432 grains. The gram or unit of weight is the weight of a cubic centimetre (1/100 of a metre) of water at 39.83° Fahr., and is equivalent to 15.434 grains. For post-office purposes, the 1/2 ounce avoirdupois is declared equivalent to 15 grams. The are, or unit of surface measurement, is the 1/100 of a square metre, or 119.6 square yards. This system of weights and measures has not as yet come into general use, either in America or England. Its advantages are indisputably great for facilitating calculation as well as establishing uniform international standards; but its adoption necessarily meets with much opposition, as it overthrows not only all the old, arbitrary units of measurement, but their multiples and subdivisions also. It seems so natural to halve and quarter, and count by the dozen, that even in our decimal currency we cannot dispense with the half and quarter dollar and eagle; in fact, the advantage of our decimal currency cannot be appreciated to its full extent until the custom of counting by the dozen is entirely superseded by the decade. The dozen, 12, is divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6; the decade, 10, by 2 and 5 only; and, although this is a matter of little moment as far as regards calculation, it makes a great difference for practical subdivision. Old rooted customs are difficult to eradicate, but there is no doubt that the dozen, half, and quarter, those stumbling-blocks in the way of the decimal system, will eventually disappear as entirely as the now totally obsolete eighth and sixteenth of a dollar, the Mexican shilling and sixpence.