This is a partial return to the original arrangement. The kilogramme
was originally named the Grave, with its decigrave and centigrave. The
tonne of 1000 kilogrammes was originally called a Bar, with its
decibar and centibar. The gramme was a Gravet, with its decigravet and
centigravet. Similarly the hectolitre was originally named the
Decicade (1/10 of the Cade = 1000 litres) of 10 centicades. The litre
was a Cadil.
Intended to be the weight of a cubic decimetre of water at 4° C. (as the
gramme was that of a cubic centimetre), this definition has been
abandoned as inexact; it is now, like our pound, the mass of a certain
platinum standard, in a vacuum.[52]
Footnote 52:
In the latitude of Paris. If weighed at Marseilles it would be equal
to about 1000·4 grammes; if in London to 999·75 grammes. It
necessarily varies with latitude, as does the length of the pendulum
beating seconds. But this variation does not impair its relative
accuracy, as whatever it is weighed against is similarly affected.
Practically, the unit of weight in the ordinary transactions of life is
the ‘half-kilo’ of 500 grammes, more usually known as a livre or pound,
though the use of this word in trade is punishable.
The livre or half-kilo = 1·1 lb. or 7716 grains.
1 kilo = 2·2046 lb. or 15,432 grains.
100 kilos or Quintal metrique = 220·46 lb.
1000 kilos or Tonne 2204·6 lb. = 0·984 ton.
1 ton = 1016 kilos; 1 cwt. = 50·8 kilos; 1 lb. = 0·4536 kilo or 453·6
grammes.
1 ounce = 28·35 grammes; 1 grain = 6·48 centigrammes.
100 kilos of wheat = 3·53 bushels, at 62-1/2 lb.
100 litres (1 hectolitre) of wheat = 2·75 bushels.
7 fr. duty on 100 kilos wheat = 2 fr. a bushel or 12_s._ 4_d._ a
quarter.
1 bushel = 36·4 litres.
_Money_
The monetary unit is the Franc, practically the same as the old livre,
somewhat less. According to the original plan, the Republican franc was
to be 10 grammes weight, so that the decimal harmony of the system
should not be disturbed. But financial expediency required it to be of
about the same weight as before, so 80 old livres were recoined as 81
francs at 5 grammes weight and 0·900 fineness. The franc was to be of
100 centimes instead of 20 sous of 4 liards.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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