May 1, 1920.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



485 



CLAIMS TO JUSTIFY DEMANDS FOR COMPULSORY USE OF 

 METRIC SYSTEM. 



Many claims are priseiUcd and urged lor the compulsory use 

 of this system. Some are so beside the facts that to consider 

 them would be wasting space and time. The principal argu- 

 ments are given and answered below. 



Simplicity Claimed for Metric System. — The claim is made 

 that the metric system is very simple. Admitting its structural 

 simplicity, it lacks those most important qualities of the English 

 system, handiness and convenience, qualities which no academic 

 perfection can replace. 



This is conclusively shown by the fact that, although the 

 metric system has been legal in the United States since 1866, 

 little progress has been made toward its general use in the in- 

 dustries. Had it possessed the qualities mentioned it would 

 have long ago crowded out the English system, which, imper- 

 fect as it is, has successfully held its own, and has enabled tlie 

 United States to become a leader in industrial pursuits. 



Supposed Need for World Trade.— The claim is made that this 

 system is needed for world trade, that without it American mar- 

 kets cannot be extended to foreign countries. 



In this connection the metric advocates have made much of the 

 fact that w^hen America first began the export of automobiles 

 some cars w ere equipped with metric tires. Now all this has been 

 changed. A prominent motor car company in a letter says: 

 "Most South American countries take inch sizes with the ex- 

 ception of Chile," while another manufacturer says: "We fur- 

 nish standard American tires on all our cars." 



The .American automobile industry standardized the tread ot 

 automobiles to 56 inches (4 feet 8 inches, practically railroad 

 gage, which is 4 feet 85^ inches) against the wishes of users 

 in the South, who, on the claim that southern roads were poor. 

 asked for a 60-inch tread. In the Argentine the Americans came 

 in competition with Italy which was furnishing any tread desired. 

 In spite of this the Americans stuck to their standard and now 

 Italy has fallen into line. The standard automobile tread the 

 world over is 56 inches — 1 meter 422 millimeters. 



Claimed Won the War for Allies.— The claim is made that 

 the Allies won the war on account of their standardizing to the 

 metric system. All that need be said is that if the metric system 

 has won the war for France, then the metric system has alsc 

 lost the war for Germany. 



Supposed Uni\-ersal Demand.— The claim is made that be- 

 tween 90 and 99 per cent of the people of the United States 

 want the metric system, therefore its use should be made com- 

 pulsory. 



In refutation of this assertion only a few facts need be re- 

 corded here, such as the following. In January, 1920, the Pitts- 

 burgh Chamber of Commerce, Robert Garland, chairman, rep- 

 resenting a district which, according to statistics, produced in 

 1918 manufactured articles to the value of $2,305,000,000, passed 

 resolutions condemning legislation in favor of the metric system. 



At a meeting held in Chicago. March 16, 1920, the American 

 Railway Engineering Association in convention assembled, passed 

 resolutions against the adoption of this system. Other associa- 

 tions, at various dates and places, did the same. 

 CONCLUSION. 



The space allotted is exhausted and yet the writer has touched 

 only the high spots and these 



RUBBER BALLS BRAND WALNUTS. 



a fragmentary way. A 

 great deal more could be said and from many other angles. It 

 is obvious that the writer does not favor the use of this system 

 being made compulsory. If it possesses the advantages claimed 

 for it by its advocates it will prove them, its use being per- 

 mitted by law. If it cannot win on its own merits by volun- 

 tary adoption under the protection of this law, it is not entitled 

 to win under a law of force. 



Ctill another instance of the infinite variety if u.-.cs to which 

 *^ rubber can be put is afforded l)y a newly-invented machine 

 which is being tried by the California Walnut Growers' Associa- 

 tion, and which is the device of .\nsel L. Wysong of Los Angeles. 



It was selected from among ihousands of other contrivances sub- 



Walxuts Bkandeu by MtA.Ns UF Rubber Balls. 

 mitted by contestants for the $10,000 prize offered by the Asso- 

 ciation, which markets nearly fifty million pounds of walnuts 

 annually and which last year did a business of over $14,000,000. 

 The essential feature of the machine is a steel cylinder in the 

 surface of which is engraved a series of intaglio branding dies. 

 This cvlindcr rotates i:i a hath of quick-drying ink and is en- 



Walnut Branding Machine. 

 gaged with a second cylinder of the same size wliich carries 

 lirmly, in pockets in its surface, soft rubber balls. These balls 

 are so placed that each comes into direct pressure contact with 

 its corresponding engraving on the steel cylinder, receives the 

 impression of the trademark, and transfers it to the shell of the 

 walnut after a further quarter-revolution. An ingenious hopper- 

 conveyor arrangement insures the positive engagement of each 

 walnut with the printing balls, which, being soft and resilient, 

 impress the brand into the tiny cracks and over the sharpest 

 ridges of the shells. Water is run through the steel cylinder to 

 prevent the overheating of the rubber balls through friction. 



Besides being used for walnuts, it is likely that the machine 

 may be licensed for branding oranges, lemons and other fruit. 



