The metric system is the system of measurement of which the meter is the fundamental unit. It was first adopted in France and is now in general use in most civilized countries except the English-speaking countries. The system is now used throughout the world for scientific measurements. Its use was legalized in the United States in 1866.
The meter, the unit of length, was intended to be one ten-millionth part of the earth's meridian quadrant and is nearly so. Its length is 39.370 inches. The unit of surface is the are, which is 100 square meters. The theoretical unit of volume is the stere, which is a cubic meter. The unit of volume for the purposes of the market is the liter, which is the volume of one kilogram of distilled water at its maximum density and is intended to be one cubic decimeter. For 10 times, 100 times, 1,000 times and 10,000 times one of these units, the prefixes, deca-, hecto-, kilo- and myria- are used. For 1-10, 1-100 and 1-1,000 of the units, the prefixes deci-, centi- and milli- are used.
In this table the equivalents are measures common in the United States and are not to be confused with British measures, which in some cases vary slightly.
| 1 myriameter | 5.4 nautical miles or 6.21 statute miles. |
| 1 kilometer | 0.621 statute mile or nearly 5/8 mile. |
| 1 hectometer | 109.4 yards. |
| 1 decameter | 1.988 rods. |
| 1 meter | 39.37 inches or about 1 yard 3 inches. |
| 1 decimeter | 3.937 inches. |
| 1 centimeter | 0.3937 inch. |
| 1 millimeter | 0.03937 inch. |
| 1 hectare | 2.471 acres. |
| 1 are | 119.6 square yards. |
| 1 centiare (square meter) | 10.764 square feet. |
| 1 decastere | 13 cubic yards or about 2¾ cords. |
| 1 stere (cubic meter) | 1.308 cubic yards or 35.3 cubic feet. |
| 1 decistere | 3½ cubic feet. |
| 1 hectoliter | 26.4 gallons. |
| 1 decaliter | Little more than 2 gallons 5 pints. |
| 1 liter | 1 quart 1/2 gill. |
| 1 deciliter | 0.845 gill. |
| 1 millier | 2,204.6 pounds avoirdupois. |
| 1 kilogram | Little more than 2 pounds 3 ounces. |
| 1 hectogram | Little more than 3 ounces 8 drams. |
| 1 decagram | 154.32 grains troy. |
| 1 gram | 15.43234 grains. |
| 1 decigram | 1.543234 grains. |
| 1 centigram | 0.154323 grains. |
| 1 milligram | 0.015432 grains. |
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ABBREVIATION
This is the style of The News on abbreviating the names of states and territories:
- Ala.
- Alaska
- Ariz.
- Ark.
- Calif.
- Colo.
- Conn.
- D. C.
- Ga.
- Fla.
- Ida.
- Ill.
- Ind.
- Ia.
- Kan.
- Ky.
- La.
- Me.
- Mass.
- Md.
- Mich.
- Minn.
- Miss.
- Mo.
- Mont.
- N. C.
- N. D.
- Neb.
- Nev.
- N. H.
- N. J.
- N. M.
- N. Y.
- O.
- Okla.
- Ore.
- Pa.
- P. I. (Philippine Islands)
- P. R. (Porto Rico)
- R. I.
- S. C.
- S. D.
- Tenn.
- Tex.
- T. H. (Territory of Hawaii)
- Utah
- Va.
- Vt.
- Wash.
- Wis.
- W. Va.
- Wyo.
Do not abbreviate Port to Pt.