IOWA ACADEMY OF .SCIENCE 
5 
Is used without difficulty, with facility and satisfaction in American shops upon 
foreign work, 
Be it Resolved, That the lowa^Academy of Science again expresses its convic- 
tion that the exclusive use of this system for all public transactions is highly 
'desirable, and 
Be it Resolved, That Congress be urged to pass legislation looking towards 
the introduction of the metric system for general use in the United States at as 
early a date as possible. Respectfully submitted, 
K. E. OUTHE, 
F. F. Almy, 
Committee. 
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DEATH OF LORD KELVIN. 
Lord Kelvin died Tuesday, December 17, 1907, at 83 years of age. At the 
time of his birth his father, James Thomson, was a farmer in the north of 
Ireland. After educating himself the father became a teacher of mathematics 
in the University of Glasgow, where William did his undergraduate work. At 
St. Peter’s College, Cambridge, he graduated as Second Wrangler, thence to 
France, the Mecca of all mathematicians, where he worked with the famous 
Regnault. 
At the age of 22 he was called to his native Glasgow to occupy the chair of 
Natural Philosophy, where he remained until 1890. In 1894 he became Chan- 
cellor. ‘‘The celebrations in ’96 when he had spent 50 years in his professorship 
were perhaps the most memorable tributes ever paid to the scientific achieve- 
ments of any one man and also the most singular testimony of the cohesion of 
men of science all over the world.” 
In Lord Kelvin there was the ideal three-fold process at work, brilliant 
theory, application of theory, and useful inventions. Helmholtz said he had 
“the gift of translating real fact into mathematical equations and vice versa,” 
a much greater feat than the mere solution of set problems. He broke down 
the old dividing wall between mathematical • and experimental physics thus 
making theory and practice an organic unit which is at once the glory and power 
of our basic science. 
The speculative side of his nature found early expression in the controversy, 
then raglng^ between science and religion over the age of the solar system. His 
views on the constitution of matter, that famous old theory which supposes 
matter to be composed of indivisible vortex-rings, the parent of our modern 
electron theory, the nature of the ether and his theory of light, have been of 
most pregnant consequence to modern scientific thought. 
On the practical side science is indebted to him for many useful discoveries 
and inventions. Those in connection with the Atlantic cable, for which he was 
knighted in 1866, being the most conspicuous. The mirror galvanometer, the 
siphon recorder, the quadrant electrometer, and the current balance are among 
the most important instruments in electrical measurement. 
He was the proprietor of over fifty patents covering the familiar screw-down 
water tap, the mariner’s compass, and the apparatus for recording and predicting 
tides. 
As a teacher it is said that he often overestimated his audience. No one was 
more convinced than he that science is comprehensible measurable law for as he 
