THE NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS AT BERLIN. 137 



produced their rapid development ;ind wlieii the movement originated 

 in England and France was transferred to Germany, it soon became 

 apparent that the space devoted to these collections demanded an im- 

 mediate enlargement. 



Deliberations to that effect commenced in 1873 and continued during 

 the years 1873-187(), and tiually, in 1880 resulted in the accomplish- 

 ment of the desire for an independent ethnographical museum. 



The building was tiuished in the spring of 188G, at a cost of 13,000,000 

 mark ($500,000). 



The Standard Measures Commission. — Article 18 of the law of August 

 17, 1868, relating to weights and measures within the North German 

 Confederation provides for the establishment of a standard measures 

 commission, with its seat at Berlin and duties specified as follows : 



" A standard measures commission is to be appointed by the Confed- 

 eration. The same is to be located at Berlin. It is the duty of the 

 commission to see that all the measures within the Confederation 

 are conducted on a uniform system. It has to prepare the standard 

 and to communicate the same to all measure bureaus throughout the 

 Confederation, and for that reason it is to be equipped with all neces- 

 sary apparatus and instruments. The standard measures commission 

 has to issue orders and prescriptions with regard to material, form, 

 designation, and other conditions of weights and measures, and to de- 

 termine the limit of errors. It decides on the kind of scales to be used 

 in public and for special industrial purposes, and determines their ac- 

 curacy. It is to issue all necessary prescriptions ftud formulas for the 

 manufacture of weights and measures and to test the accuracy of any 

 articles which may be offered for the purpose. The standard measures 

 commission has to regulate the fees to be exacted by the measuring 

 establishments, and in fact the entire technics of weights and measures. 



" All bureaus of measures within the North German Confederation, 

 in addition to the local stamp, have to use the mark of the standard 

 measures commission which will be furnished for the purpose. 



"The standard weights and measures are to be preserved after true 

 and attested copies have been made of them." 



Article 22 of the law providing for the introduction of the new 

 weights and measures, on and after January 1, 1870, called for the 

 immediate formation of the conference in order to enable the bureau 

 of measures to have the necessary facilities and standards in time for the 

 testing and approving of any new weights and measures brought 

 before them. 



As a result of the conference metrical regulations were established on 

 July 10, 1869; and on July 21, 1869, the business instructions and the 

 composition and organization of the standard measures commission 

 were completed. 



According to the rules adopted, the standard measures commission 

 was to consist of the director, assisted by the regular force re(iuired 



