2 
IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 
due to the fact that when the manuscript of the Proceedings was ready for 
publication the State Printer was at work on the Code. The result was that 
nothing could be done on the Proceedings until January, 1908, and then the 
work was slow because of other State work in press. An attempt has been 
made in the notices of the meeting of 1908 to impress upon the members of the 
Academy the necessity of compliance with the regulations requiring copies of 
papers presented to be left with the secretary at the time of the meeting and in 
typewritten form. If the manuscript can be given to the printer early after 
the meeting then no great delay is probable as there is little State work in the 
office during the summer. 
The value of the work of the Academy should increase from year to year. 
It is very true that the great majority of the members do not have much time 
available for scientific investigation. Routine class work or professional duty 
requires most of the time and energy; but if the members will decide very 
early in the year to make reports upon some certain lines of study it is probable 
that sufficient time for more good work may be found. 
Respectfully submitted, 
L. S. ROSS, Secretary. 
REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE ON THE METRIC SYSTEM. 
1. When the Congressional Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures 
decided not to report the Littauer bill back to the House of Representatives, 
another chapter in the fight for the introduction of the metric system in this 
country was closed. A large number of the manufacturers and some engineers 
are still strongly opposed to the passage of such a bill, even if it provides, as 
in this case, for the use of the metric system only by the various departments 
of our national government. 
But it can hardly be claimed, even by the most sanguine supporters of the 
present confusion of weights and measures, that the metric movement has been 
definitely disposed of. A careful study of the voluminous report of the 
congressional committee shows this clearly. 
The assertion is often made that the supporters of the bill were merely 
professors and theorists without knowledge of practical affairs and that a 
discussion of the merits of the system is purely of academic interest. It is true 
that the theorists stand together on this question, but it is also true that there 
is by no means perfect harmony on the other side. Many large manufacturing 
concerns have come over to us and a great number of engineers are strongly in 
favor of the introduction of the metric system. 
To give an example: The standardization committee of the American Insti- 
tute of Electrical Engineers submitted in April, 1906, the following resolution to 
be voted upon by the members of this large and influential society: “That the 
committee unanimously recommends the introduction of the metric system into 
general use in the United States at as early a date as possible without undue 
hardship to the industrial interests involved.” Out of 1,747 votes, received a 
month later, 1,569 favored the resolution. 
2. Strongly convinced of the final victory of our case, your committee pre- 
sents herewith a short review of the substantial progress made by the metric 
system during the past few years in all civilized countries. 
