1887.] '^'^^ [Taylor. 



scale ; and there is no doubt that our new system would ensure an increase 

 of accuracy, at least equal to its ratio of simplicity. And if to this were 

 added the facility which would result from constructing all our tables 

 of weight and measure upon this scale (a scale so admirably suited to 

 them)— and thereby entirely discarding the whole tedious and troublesome 

 practice of "reduction," from our Arithmetic — the economy of time and 

 labor would be something quite astounding.* 



Our exposition of the subject of numeration has been so extended that 

 neither time nor space will now permit us to illustrate the practical work- 

 ing of the aritiimetical system here proposed. It is evident, however, 

 that we are here equipped with a mechanism fully adequate to the resolu- 

 tion and expression of all arithmetical operations. Framed by a strict 

 analogy with our present system, it affords us every facility and advantage 

 that this can boast ; and differing from it onlj'' in the number of its inte- 

 gers, it relieves us entirely from the difficulties and embarrassments which 

 have ever been the opprobrium of our decimal scale. Merely to exhibit 

 the form and method of our scheme, we may here indicate that the pres- 

 ent year, "1887," would, in the octonary style be expressed 6P6B — Thety- 

 pader and tliety-ki. The diameter of the earth (7925 miles) would be ex- 

 pressed L.BGBP— f^«««^. -S'% theder setypa ; or in feet (41,847,188) 

 C 6BP0 FBCF — JDukaly, thety Jcider patysen, foty seder duty-fo. 



We now proceed as rapidly as possible to the application of this im- 

 proved numeration to the determination and distribution of a sj'stem of 

 weights and measures. Of all the systems of metrology yet perfected, or 

 even proposed, that of the French is, in the philosophical character of its 

 standards, as well as in the ingenuity, simplicity and precision of its de- 

 tails, undoubtedly by far the most admirable and the most worthy of our 

 imitation. "The French System," says Mr. Adams in the excellent 

 Report on Weights and Measures from which we have already more than 

 once had occasion to quote, " embraces all the great and important prin- 

 ciples of uniformity which can be applied to weights and measures. But 

 that system is not yet complete ; it is susceptible of many modifications and 

 improvements. Considered merely as a labor-saving machine, it is a new 

 power offered to man incomparably greater tlian that which he has ac- 

 quired by the new agency which he has given to steam. It is in design 

 the greatest invention of human ingenuity since that of printing. But 



* " It is impossible to estimate witli any degree of accuracy," says Mr. Kichol, " the 

 amount of labor annually thrown away by the nation at large, while persisting in per- 

 forming the manifold comjiutations necessary to its gigantic commerce and industry, by 

 means of a series of tables so needlessly complicated and imperfect as those now in use. 

 But the waste of time and loss of money must be sometliing quite enormous, while every 

 day it becomes greater and greater. Were the diflerent denominations of weights, 

 measures and money brought into harmony with the fundamental principle of our 

 common arithmetic, it may be safely affirmed that the labor.of commercial and profes- 

 sional calculations would be reduced much below one-half of what is now expended 

 in this direction, while the risk of errors would be diminished in a still greater ratio" 

 {Encyclopedia of the Physical Sciences, art. "Weights and Measures," page 778). 



