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Show Page 4 UTAH FARM BUREAU Should our weights and measures be shifted to the metric system? Prepared by W. E. IlamOton, Director, Research Division, AFBF TTie weights and measures commonly used in the United States are a part of our English cultural inheritance. Consequently, they are commonly referred to as the English system. Theyare also referred to as the customary system and the system. Most other countries use a completely different system known as the metric system. Public Law approved by the President on August 9, 1968, authorized the Secretary of Commerce . . . to conduct a to convert from a smaller to a such as the pharmaceutical inprogram of investigation, redetermine to and have Such of survey search, uses, course, dustry. larger unit of measure or vice worldthe impact of increasing versa it is necessary only to relatively little impact on the wide use of the metric system on divide or multiply by 10, 100, at large. public the United States; to appraise the 1000 and so on, as compared Consider Why desirability and practicability of (for example) with 12, 3, and metric use of the 1760 as conversion factors for Metrication? increasing in the d units of length in the weights and measures The issue of converting to the inch-pou- June, 1970 Mb ISNT IT TIME nd 90-47- 2, fABJMbMttHSujjir 6EV"FAR PRICE" PROgmCONTMCB - JOINED? ANTI -- FARMER PROPAGANDA ON COTF HIT ftFARMDUttAll FOOD TCRflMtwtf , Itl w rr S' . inch-poun- United States; to study the feasibility of retaining and promoting by international use of dimensional and other engineering standards based on the customary measurement units of the United States; and to evaluate the costs and benefits of alternative courses of action which may be feasible for the United States. This study is now being carried out by the National Bureau of Standards. When its is concluded the question of converting our weights and measures to the metric system may well become a legislative issue. While Congressional consideration of this issue may be some years away, individuals and organizations wishing to influence the ultimate decision would be well advised to become involved now while the study is in its early stages. As a part of the study authorized by P.L. the National Bureau of Standards will hold a series of conferences in the fall of 1970 to ascertain the views of major industry groups, including agriculture. It is anticipated that Farm Bureau will be invited to make a statement at one of these conferences. 90-47- 2, What Are Metric Measurements ? The metric system varies somewhat from country to country; however, the system under consideration in the United States is a modernized metric system, which is also known as the International System of Units (SI). The International System is a unified system of measuring length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, and luminous intensity. The basic SI units for length and mass are: Length 1 meter 3.281 feet Mass 1 kilogram 2.205 lbs. Various prefixes are used to indicate multiples or fractions of basic metric units. For example, a centimeter is 1100 of a meter and a kilometer is 1000 meters. The liter (1.057 quarts) is commonly used as a metric unit for liquid measure; however, it is not an SI unit. The comparable SI unit is I cubic decimeter (1000 cubic centimeters). The SI measure for temperature is the Kelvin scale which uses absolute zero as its zero point. The Kelvin scale is now used for scientific purposes; however a related measure known as the Celsius scale on which water freezes at 0 and boils at 100 is considered more suitable for general use. The metric system was legalized in the United States by an Act of Congress passed in 1866. Thus, anyone .who wishes to do so is free to use metric measurements. The only legal units for measuring electric current and luminous intensity in the United States are SI units. The metric system is commonly used in scientific work, in some athletic events, and in seme industries metric system (metrication) arises primarily because of the increasing use of modernized metric system . in other countries, and a concern with respect to the possible impact of this trend on United States trade with other countries. The United Kingdom the original source of our weights and measures is in the process of converting to the metric system. The only industrially advanced countries that have not yet adopted some form of the metric system, or started the process of converting to it, are the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand have recently decided to convert. The Canadian government has issued a White Paper which states that, The government believes that adoption of the metric system of measurement is ultimately inevitable and desirable for Canada. . . . The government has therefore that the eventual concluded adoption of the metric system should be an objective of Canadian policy. . . ." Despite these conclusions, Canadian action with respect to metrication undoubtedly will be influenced by what the United States does. With much of the world on the metric system, it is said that adoption of this system would make it easier for the United States to exchange manufactured products with other countries. As already noted, individual industries are free to adopt the metric system, but a piece-meadoption is bound to be a slow process. Advocates of the metric system also point out that it is much simpler than our present system of weights and measures although it may not seem simpler t d people who have to shift their thinking from a familiar system to an unfamiliar one. The Canadian White Paper so-call- ed al says, . . . The metric system has many virtues, the most obvious of which is its decimal nature; ... system. To illustrate the point made above let us compare some measures of length under our system and the metric system. 12 inches 1 foot 3 feet 1 yard 1760 yards 1 mile 10 millimeters 1 centimeter 100 centimeters 1 meter 1000 meters 1 kilometer The advantages of the irietric system over our present system of measurement are roughly com- -' parable to the advantages of our dollars and cents (decimal) currency system over the traditional English monetary system which is now being converted to a decimal basis. lie. y.,'--.- - ,r r What Are The Disadvantages Of Metrication? The chief disadvantages from the standpoint of the general public, including farmers, are: (1) The difficulties most adults would experience in learning to think in metric terms; and (2) The cost of a changeover. For many people the major problem resulting from a shift to the metric system would be the problem of learning to think and speak in terms of the new units. For example, just imagine the problems a farmer would encounter if he were to wake up some morning and find that the country had gone completely metric overnight. If he drove out on the highway he would find signs stating the distance to the next town in kilometers. If he stopped for gas he probably would find the price quoted in cents per liter. If he were to offer to sell a load of hogs, cattle, wheat, or cotton he would find that prospective buyers were now quoting prices in terms of cents per kilogram. This is only a sample of the changes that would result from a shift to the metric system. It would not, of course, be possible to convert to the metric system overnight without warning. If the United States were to decide to convert it probably would do so on a very gradual basis over a period of years. People would be given time to prepare and to adjust, and there probably would be a time in which the present system of measurement and the metric system would be used side by side. For example, in the transition period highway signs might show distances in both miles and kilometers. Conversion to the metric system would create a variety of design, production, and inventory problems for many industries; however, these problems would vary greatly by industry. Some industries might have to do little more than change their measuring equipment and their terminology. For example, a food processor might need to do only the things that would permit him to use labels showing net contents in terms of grams and kilograms rather than ounces and pounds. The screw industry would be faced 'with a much more difficult problem as there is no metric screw that is completely interchangeable with a similar size English screw. Metric and English screws differ not only in size, but also in thread standards. If the screw industry were to convert to the metric system users, including farmers, would have to maintain supplies of both old and new style screws for a transitional period. The complete conversion of such things as autos and farm machinery to the metric system would greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the possibility of using parts made for present models to make repairs on later models. It obviously would cost money to convert to the metric system. To cite just one example, the cost of altering thousands of highway signs would be a sizable item. Some estimates of total costs are likely to be quite high; however, it is virtually impossible to calculate what the costs actually would be. Much With much of the world on the metric system, it is said that adop-wou- ld depend on the time allowed for conversion, and the extent to which advance planning made it possible to follow orderly procedures. If conversion were spread over a period of years many required changes could be made as equipment is replaced for other reasons. What Are The Alternatives? One alternative is to continue as we have been. In this case it is to be expected that there will be a very gradual shift toward the metric system on basis. an industry-by-industSuch a shift probably would have very little impact on the public at large in the foreseeable future. However, an increasing number of individuals would have to learn to use the metric system as well as our present system. A second alternative is legislation to encourage metrication. Such legislation might do little more than provide for educational efforts to familiarize the public with the metric system; however, it could authorize governmental assistance for industries that wish to convert. The consequences of this alternative probably would be similar to those of alternative No 1, except that the rate of change to the metric system would be accelerated. A third alternative is legislation to require metrication. Such legislation probably would provide for educational activities during a transitional period, the establishment of deadlines for the adoption of metric measures for various purposes and various forms of government assistance during the changeover. ultimate The consequence would be the conversion of most weights and measures to the metric system, although the transition probably would be spread over a period of several years. A great deal more undoubtedly will be heard about these alternatives in the years ahead. It may be too early to decide whether a change to the metric system would be good or bad, but it is not too early to begin thinking about this question. ry . |