20 



coinage. This tenth is natural to onr numerala, from one to ten being tlie basis 

 and these numerals are common to the world. 



In the French system, the unit, in measures of length, is called meter, from 

 the Greek word metron, a measure. Thus we have our gas-meters, or measurers 

 of the gas which passes from the main pipes to the burners. So we see that the 

 word is already American. This unit is to be decimally increased or decreased. 

 The names showing the increase, the French system derives from the Greek, 

 and those showing the decrease, from the Latin. !Zc«-fold this meter is called 

 decameter., from the Greek word dtka, ten, and metron, measure, as above stated. 

 The hundred-iiAii is called }iecto7neter, from the Greek word hekaton, a hundred. 

 The i/iousa?id-(o\d is called kilometer, from the Greek word hilion, a thousand. 



The tenth decrease of this unit, or meter, is named decimeter, from the Latin 

 "word decern, ten. The hundredth decrease is called centimeter, from the Latin 

 word centum, a hundred, as our words per centum, that is, by the hundred. 

 The thousandth decrease is named mdlimeter, from the Latin word mille, a 

 thousand. 



The unit of the measure of capacity is called by the French liter, from the 

 Greek word litra, a pound. The ten, hundred, and thousand fold increase 

 is named as above — decaliter, hectoliter, and kiloliter. The decrease, in like 

 manner, i-; called deciliter, centiliter, millileter. 



The unit of the measure of weight is called gram, from the Greek word gram- 

 ma, a small Grecian weight. Then, as above, we have decagram, hectogram, 

 and kilogram. Also decigram, centigram, and milligram. 



The unit of the measure of surface is called are, from the Latin area., a broad 

 piece of level land. Then, again, as above, we have decare, hectare, and kiliare; 

 also deciare, centiare, and milliare. 



The meter is 39 j^^ inches; the liter, \.\ pints j the gram IS^^^^^ troy grains ; 

 and the are, 1,076 feet. 



We commend this system to the proper committee in Congress, with the hope 

 that it will not permit the present session to pass by without making such re- 

 port as may be the basis of action for the next Congress. 



The following is the article of Mr. Johnson : 



THE PECIMAL SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



Great Britain and the United States can secure to the world a universal deci- 

 mal system of weights and measures of extreme simplic"ty. Great Britain has 

 taken the first step by legalizing the French system of weights and measures, 

 and this country should aid to the uttermost of her ability in conferring this 

 great boon upon humanity. The subject was introduced in Congress at the 

 last session, but no definite action was taken, and if the attention of public men 

 is not persistently directed to the project, it will be negdected, and even the 

 noble spirits in England who have worked so steadfastly in this cause may be- 

 come disheartened at their slow progress ; for the mere legalization of the sys- 

 tem will be futile, unless succeeded by more efiicient legislation. The legaliz- 

 ing of the system by us would encourage its advocates in England, and aid 

 them in procuring efficient legislation. It is hoped, however, that our govern- 

 ment will not rest satisfied with doing so little.- 



As much ignorance prevails upon this subject, a slight sketch of the system 

 may not be out of place. The unit of the system is the meter, which is the forty 

 millionth part of the meridian of the earth, and is equal to about 39.\ inches. 

 From this are derived all the weights and measures, and also the external rela- 

 tions of the coins. Quantities above unity have been named by prefixing Greek 

 numbers, quantities below unity by La'in numbers. The tenfold quantity is indi- 

 cated by deka, the hundred-fold by hckto, and the thousand-fold l)y kilo, tenth 

 part by deci, the hundredth by centi, and the thousandth by 7nilli. The unit 



