160:“For many years we have had a large export demand for our scales with French weights, and the demand and sale is constantly increasing.” Its minute and exact divisions specially adapt it to the use of chemists, aphothecaries, the finer operations of the artisan, and to all scientific objects. It has always been and is now used in the United States coast survey. Yet in some of the States, owing to the phraseology of their laws, it would be a direct violation of them to use it in the business transactions of the community. It is therefore very important to legalize its use, and give to the people, or that portion of them desiring it, the opportunity for its legal employment, while the knowledge of its characteristics will be thus diffused among men. Chambers of commerce, boards of trade, manufacturing associations, and other voluntary societies, and individuals, will be induced to consider and in their discretion to adopt its use. The interests of trade among a people so quick as ours to receive and adopt a useful novelty, will soon acquaint practical men with its convenience. When this is attained—a period, it is hoped, not distant—a further act of Congress can fix a date for its exclusive adoption as a legal system. At an earlier period it may be safely introduced into all public offices, and for government service.
34:
166:
quantities now possible are liable to minute corrections hereafter, as more numerous observations are made and better instruments are used. Instead, therefore, of aiming at an accuracy greater, perhaps, than is attainable, it is more expedient to consult the convenience of the people by using the simplest numbers possible in the schedule, and yet such as shall be in fact more nearly exact than can ever be demanded in the ordinary business of life. These numbers are to be used in schools, and in practical life millions of times as multipliers and divisors, and every unnecessary additional figure is justly objectionable.
171:
In a popular sense of the word, however, the numbers in the schedule may be said to be exact. The length of the meter, for example, is given as 39.37 inches. The mean of the best
English and the best American determinations differs from this only by about the amount by which the standard bar changes
159:
The metric system is already used in some arts and trades in this country, and is especially adapted to the wants of others. Some of its measures are already manufactured at Bangor, in Maine, to meet an existing demand at home and abroad. The manufacturers of the well-known
Fairbanks scales state:
165:
In the schedule of equivalents provided in the bill, extreme scientific accuracy is not expressed. The reasons follow. The exact length of the meter in inches and the weight of the kilogram in grains can of necessity be determined only approximately. The most careful determinations of these
188:
The Act included a now-obsolete definition of the metric system and tables of units. (The notes at the end of some tables are not from the original document itself but are included for clarity.)
176:
The Act was originally introduced as H.R. 596 in the 39th
Congress. The House passed it on 17 May 1866; the Senate passed it on July 27, 1866; and it was presented to President
19:
This article is about 1866 act that permitted the use of metric units. For the 1975 act that permitted the use of United States customary units in non-business activities, see
155:
from Iowa, then
Chairman of the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, proposed the act in his report of the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures:
925:
The
Myriameter (10,000 meters) and Myriagram (10,000 grams) were dropped as unnecessary units. They are now expressed in kilometers and kilograms (units of 1,000).
990:
846:
The metric measures in brackets in the above table are not from the original document but are conversions into kilograms for clarity.
172:
its length by a change of one degree of temperature. Such accuracy is certainly sufficient for legal purposes and for popular use.
985:
95:
980:
73:
65:
975:
922:
The Stère (1 cubic meter) and
Quintal (100,000 grams) are no longer officially part of the metric system.
900:
53:
888:
878:
A weight equal to 1 million grams (or 1 millier), 10 quintals, 100 Myriagrams, or 1,000 Kilograms.
897:
143:
in commerce from lawsuit, and provided an official conversion table from U.S. customary units.
20:
33:
904:
104:
8:
907:. It replaced the old definition of the metric system with the modern-day definition of
852:
1) A unit of a thousand. 2a) A metric ton. 2b) A thousand kilos. 2c) A million grams.
935:
177:
152:
115:
969:
866:
140:
136:
610:
44:
An Act to authorize the Use of the Metric System of
Weights and Measures
77:
16:
United States legislation of 1866 concerning usage of the metric system
955:
856:
915:
The
Millier and Tonneau (1,000,000 grams) were replaced by the
873:
609:
A metric measurement of firewood or lumber equivalent to the
604:
869:(112 lb). 3) A metric unit of weight equal to 100 kilograms.
908:
861:
1) A customary unit of weight equal to 100 pounds. 2)
889:
967:
183:
139:legislation that legally protected use of the
224:0.62137 Miles or 3,280 Feet & 10 Inches
887:On August 9, 2007, the Act was amended by
968:
629:Equivalents in Denominations in Use
384:Equivalents in Denominations in Use
334:Equivalents in Denominations in Use
202:Equivalents in Denominations in Use
13:
894:Tooltip Public Law (United States)
14:
1002:
991:Metrication in the United States
32:
626:Metric Denominations and Value
381:Metric Denominations and Value
331:Metric Denominations and Value
199:Metric Denominations and Value
948:
1:
986:International System of Units
941:
882:
865:A unit of weight equal to a
7:
929:
184:Metric Weights and Measures
54:39th United States Congress
10:
1007:
646:Weight of what quantity of
468:2 bushels & 3.35 pecks
146:
18:
981:1866 in American politics
628:
625:
383:
380:
333:
330:
201:
198:
180:and signed the next day.
89:
84:
64:
59:
48:
40:
31:
648:water at maximum density
235:328 Feet & 1 Inch
174:
168:
162:
108:on July 27, 1866
169:
163:
157:
99:on May 17, 1866
21:Metric Conversion Act
976:1866 in American law
956:"Metric Act of 1866"
905:America COMPETES Act
810:10 cubic milliliters
741:10 cubic centiliters
560:10 cubic centimeters
375:Measures of Capacity
342:10,000 square meters
131:, also known as the
622:
566:0.338 fluid ounces
563:0.6102 cubic inches
537:6.1022 cubic inches
482:10 cubic decimeters
377:
367:1550 square inches
356:119.6 square yards
327:
325:Measures of Surface
195:
85:Legislative history
28:
833:1 cubic milliliter
755:1 cubic centiliter
654:Avoirdupois Weight
618:
589:0.061 cubic inches
586:1 cubic centimeter
373:
323:
193:Measures of Length
191:
129:Metric Act of 1866
27:Metric Act of 1866
26:
840:
839:
650:
596:
595:
592:0.27 fluid drams
499:1 cubic decimeter
425:1.308 cubic yards
371:
370:
353:100 square meters
321:
320:
125:
124:
67:Statutes at Large
998:
960:
959:
952:
936:Seconds pendulum
895:
891:
829:
828:
824:
806:
805:
801:
787:cubic centiliter
786:
785:
781:
774:
773:
769:
665:1,000,000 grams;
644:
623:
617:
582:
581:
577:
556:
555:
551:
533:
532:
528:
521:
520:
516:
502:0.908 dry quarts
464:
463:
459:
395:Number of Liters
378:
372:
328:
322:
313:
312:
308:
293:
292:
288:
273:
272:
268:
196:
190:
135:, is a piece of
118:on July 28, 1866
68:
36:
29:
25:
1006:
1005:
1001:
1000:
999:
997:
996:
995:
966:
965:
964:
963:
954:
953:
949:
944:
932:
893:
885:
826:
822:
821:
803:
799:
798:
783:
779:
778:
771:
767:
766:
696:
681:
666:
661:
647:
640:Number of grams
579:
575:
574:
553:
549:
548:
534:cubic decimeter
530:
526:
525:
518:
514:
513:
488:2.6417 gallons
485:9.08 dry quarts
471:26.417 gallons
461:
457:
456:
428:264.17 gallons
410:Liquid Measures
310:
306:
305:
290:
286:
285:
270:
266:
265:
186:
149:
121:
112:Signed into law
66:
49:Enacted by
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1004:
994:
993:
988:
983:
978:
962:
961:
946:
945:
943:
940:
939:
938:
931:
928:
927:
926:
923:
920:
884:
881:
880:
879:
870:
853:
847:
844:
838:
837:
836:0.0154 grains
834:
831:
819:
815:
814:
813:0.1543 grains
811:
808:
796:
792:
791:
790:1.5432 grains
788:
776:
764:
760:
759:
758:15.432 grains
756:
753:
750:
746:
745:
744:0.3527 ounces
742:
739:
736:
732:
731:
730:3.5274 ounces
728:
725:
722:
718:
717:
716:2.2046 pounds
714:
711:
708:
704:
703:
702:22.046 pounds
700:
697:
693:
689:
688:
687:220.46 pounds
685:
682:
680:100,000 grams;
678:
674:
673:
672:2204.6 pounds
670:
667:
663:
657:
656:
651:
642:
637:
631:
630:
627:
601:
600:
594:
593:
590:
587:
584:
572:
568:
567:
564:
561:
558:
546:
542:
541:
538:
535:
523:
511:
507:
506:
505:1.0567 quarts
503:
500:
497:
494:
490:
489:
486:
483:
480:
477:
473:
472:
469:
466:
454:
451:
447:
446:
443:
440:
437:
434:
430:
429:
426:
423:
420:
417:
413:
412:
407:
402:
400:Cubic Measures
397:
392:
386:
385:
382:
369:
368:
365:
364:1 square meter
362:
358:
357:
354:
351:
347:
346:
343:
340:
336:
335:
332:
319:
318:
317:0.0394 Inches
315:
303:
299:
298:
297:0.3937 Inches
295:
283:
279:
278:
275:
263:
259:
258:
255:
252:
248:
247:
244:
241:
237:
236:
233:
230:
226:
225:
222:
219:
215:
214:
211:
208:
204:
203:
200:
185:
182:
178:Andrew Johnson
153:John A. Kasson
148:
145:
123:
122:
120:
119:
116:Andrew Johnson
109:
100:
90:
87:
86:
82:
81:
70:
62:
61:
57:
56:
50:
46:
45:
42:
38:
37:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1003:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
973:
971:
957:
951:
947:
937:
934:
933:
924:
921:
918:
914:
913:
912:
910:
906:
902:
899:
898:110–69 (text)
892:
877:
875:
871:
868:
867:hundredweight
864:
860:
858:
854:
851:
848:
845:
842:
841:
835:
832:
820:
817:
816:
812:
809:
797:
794:
793:
789:
777:
765:
762:
761:
757:
754:
751:
748:
747:
743:
740:
737:
734:
733:
729:
726:
723:
720:
719:
715:
712:
709:
706:
705:
701:
698:
695:10,000 grams;
694:
691:
690:
686:
683:
679:
676:
675:
671:
669:1 cubic meter
668:
664:
659:
658:
655:
652:
649:
643:
641:
638:
636:
633:
632:
624:
621:
616:
614:
613:
608:
606:
598:
597:
591:
588:
585:
573:
570:
569:
565:
562:
559:
547:
544:
543:
539:
536:
524:
512:
509:
508:
504:
501:
498:
495:
492:
491:
487:
484:
481:
478:
475:
474:
470:
467:
455:
452:
449:
448:
444:
441:
439:1 cubic meter
438:
435:
432:
431:
427:
424:
422:1 cubic meter
421:
418:
415:
414:
411:
408:
406:
403:
401:
398:
396:
393:
391:
388:
387:
379:
376:
366:
363:
360:
359:
355:
352:
349:
348:
344:
341:
338:
337:
329:
326:
316:
304:
301:
300:
296:
284:
281:
280:
277:3.937 Inches
276:
264:
261:
260:
257:39.37 Inches
256:
253:
250:
249:
246:393.7 Inches
245:
242:
239:
238:
234:
231:
228:
227:
223:
220:
217:
216:
213:6.2137 Miles
212:
210:10,000 meters
209:
206:
205:
197:
194:
189:
181:
179:
173:
167:
161:
156:
154:
144:
142:
141:metric system
138:
137:United States
134:
130:
117:
114:by President
113:
110:
107:
106:
101:
98:
97:
92:
91:
88:
83:
79:
75:
71:
69:
63:
58:
55:
51:
47:
43:
39:
35:
30:
22:
950:
916:
886:
872:
862:
855:
849:
684:1 hectoliter
653:
645:
639:
634:
619:
611:
603:
602:
540:0.843 gills
419:1,000 liters
409:
405:Dry Measures
404:
399:
394:
389:
374:
345:2.471 acres
324:
221:1,000 meters
192:
187:
175:
170:
164:
158:
151:Congressman
150:
132:
128:
126:
111:
102:
93:
727:1 deciliter
710:1,000 grams
465:cubic meter
103:Passed the
94:Passed the
970:Categories
942:References
883:Amendments
660:Millier or
571:Milliliter
545:Centiliter
453:100 liters
450:Hectoliter
302:Millimeter
282:Centimeter
232:100 meters
229:Hectometer
207:Myriameter
133:Kasson Act
41:Long title
818:Milligram
795:Centigram
724:100 grams
721:Hectogram
699:10 liters
692:Myriagram
510:Deciliter
479:10 liters
476:Dekaliter
416:Kiloliter
262:Decimeter
243:10 meters
240:Dekameter
218:Kilometer
60:Citations
930:See also
917:Megagram
863:British:
850:Millier:
763:Decigram
738:10 grams
735:Dekagram
707:Kilogram
72:14
890:Pub. L.
874:Tonneau
857:Quintal
825:⁄
802:⁄
782:⁄
770:⁄
713:1 liter
677:Quintal
662:Tonneau
620:Weights
578:⁄
552:⁄
529:⁄
517:⁄
496:1 liter
460:⁄
361:Centare
339:Hectare
309:⁄
289:⁄
269:⁄
254:1 meter
147:History
903:, the
896:
843:Notes,
752:1 gram
599:Notes,
105:Senate
80:(1866)
76:
901:(PDF)
605:Stère
583:liter
557:liter
522:liter
493:Liter
433:Stère
314:meter
294:meter
274:meter
251:Meter
96:House
74:Stat.
830:gram
827:1000
807:gram
775:gram
749:Gram
635:Name
612:cord
580:1000
390:Name
311:1000
127:The
52:the
804:100
615:.
554:100
350:Are
291:100
78:339
972::
911:.
909:SI
784:10
772:10
531:10
519:10
462:10
445:-
271:10
958:.
919:.
876::
859::
823:1
800:1
780:1
768:1
607::
576:1
550:1
527:1
515:1
458:1
442:-
436:-
307:1
287:1
267:1
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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