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Foreign Weights and Measures

Metric System of Weights and Measures. - The metric system is based upon the distance from the equator to the pole. The ten-millionth part of this arc was chosen as the unit of measures of length, and called a Meter. The cube of the tenth part of the meter was adopted as the unit of capacity, and denominated a Liter, The weight of a liter of destilled water at it greatest density was called a Kilogramme, of which the thousandth part, or Gramme, was adopted as the unit of weight. The multiples of these, proceeding in decimal progression, are distinguished by the employment of the prefixes deca, hecto, kilo, myria, from the Greek, and the subdivisions by deci, centi, milli, from the Latin :- Millimeter equals Centimeter " Decimeter " METER “ Decameter " Hectometer " Kilometer “ Myriameter " .............