§ APPENDIX F LXXXI 
The following are fractional parts of a forty-inch metre. 
One-half equals in lencth.). 420. ant 20inches 
€ 
One-quarter Re ‘ 10 inches 
One-fifth e = EERE erty eee, ee oe PINS 8 inches 
One-eighth ui ‘s Et | as tls An Poh eS 
One-tenth Pe di LA PACA NUE PR ES 4 inches 
Three-tenths “ ae ae tus RELIEF te inches 
Three-eighths “ “ ne ru vate Rte sn Bite LDS INICRER 
Two-fifths te SE OU NE AE dt anne he 
Three-fifths oe sé Re Re NE bal atta) etl GES 
Five-eighths “ a PS RTE IR 2 0e TEC eR 
Seven-tenths  ‘ “ CARO A Odile ti AS BO. TGS 
Three-fourths ‘“ SE LA EN ne ES EN Teed 
Four-fifths oe id Se epee Ea A i. ey me aS 
Seven-eighths “ 6 he atic PCs ania) wh OT CTI ed 
Nine-tenths es oe NP A ieee eo oe) CHER 
That the metric system based or a forty-inch fundamental unit 
would very readily assimilate with the system of common measures, 
long established throughout the Empire and throughout the United 
States is obvious from these and other conspicuous facts. 
(1) Three metres would equal ten feet. 
(2) Quarter of a metre would equal ten inches. 
(3) A decimetre,—the tenth part of a metre, would equal four 
inches. 
(4) Four inches cubed would be a litre, eventually to become the 
universal standard unit of capacity and directly associated with the 
standard unit of weight. 
It will be apparent that the forty-inch metre may be introduced 
without any conflict between the two systems. The incommensurability 
of the unit basis, deplored by Dr. Barnard and others, would be removed 
and as there is no reason why the two systems the metric and the English 
(American-British) should not exist side by side, provided neither be 
made obligatory and both equally legal and optional, there would soon 
be created an affiliation between the two systems. The desires of the 
scientific investigator would be met equally with those of the business 
man and with the practical needs of artisans and other classes of society. 
It is not to be expected that the countries already in the enjoyment 
of the metric system would be prepared at once to accept the emended 
metre. There would be no actual necessity for them doing so, as in 
trafficking with countries using the 40 inch metre, the difference would 
