A Standard Micrometer. 4g 



We can all realize that it has required a great deal of patient 

 observation and experimenting to arrive at this result. 



We are accustomed in this country to employ the divisions 

 of the inch. As a rule people are conservative. But, in a case 

 like this, custom must not govern us. We decide this question, 

 not for ouselves alone, but for future generations. The action 

 of this congress will be known throughout the world, and its 

 influence must be felt. It becomes us, then, to act carefully 

 and with the best judgment. 



We propose a standard for universal use; then let us select 

 one that can and will be adopted, not alone by our own 

 country, but by all civilized nations. We must not allow con- 

 siderations of economy to actuate us, nor of mere convenience. 

 Therefore, I say, let us select the French metric system as our 

 basis of measurement. 



It is not for me to indicate to this audience its advantages as 

 a system of measurement for universal use. I do not even say 

 that I believe it is the best. But I do say, that it is the only 

 system that can be made universal in a micrometer for the 

 microscope, and in this I expect the support of all who are 

 familiar with scientific work throughout the world. To those 

 who are in doubt as to this, it is sufficient to remind them 

 that a nation like the French, which has used a decimal system 

 so long, could not be expected to change it for one with di- 

 visions like our inch. We should be ready to sacrifice some- 

 thing ourselves (and it will be, at most, a sacrifice to us for a 

 short space of time) for the sake of securing uniformity with 

 the people of a whole country. Moreover, even in our own 

 country the inch standard cannot be maintained, for scientific 

 men are decided in their preference for the French system. 

 When I say that this congress has the power to make a 

 standard for the country, I mean on condition that it be 

 made to suit the requirem.ents of men of science. Practically, 

 we are forced to the adoption of the French system, by the 

 demands of our own workers. I have not been able to collect 

 statistics as to how many of our educational institutions are 

 now using the millimeter micrometers, but I know that many 

 of them are, and I know, too, that a chemist can hardly be 

 found who measures in quarts, and pints, and gills, or who 

 weighs in grains. It is always centimeters and grammes, and 



