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B U L. L E T I N 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ^i^rEKio^isr 
 
 Metrologieal Society 
 
 ORGANIZED DECEMBER 30, 1873. 
 
 OFFICERS, COMMITTEES, 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 
 GREGORY BROS., Pr's, 34 Carmine St. 
 
 1879. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2008 with funding from 
 
 Microsoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/bulletinofamericOOamerrich 
 
BULLETIN 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN 
 
 Metrologieal Society 
 
 ORGANIZED DECEMBER 30, 1873. 
 
 OFFICERS, COMMITTEES, 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. 
 
 NEW YORK .' 
 
 GREGORY BROS., Pr's, 34 Carmine St. 
 
 1879. 
 
Officers and Standing Committees 
 
 OF THE 
 
 American Metrological Society, 
 
 Officers for 1879. 
 
 # 
 
 President, F. A. P. Barnard, S. T. D., LL. D., L. H.D., 
 
 President of Columbia College, New York. 
 
 Vice-President, J. E. Hilgard, U. S. Coast Survey. 
 
 Rec. Secretary, T. Egleston, E.M., Ph. D., LL. D., 
 
 Prof, of Mineralogy, School of Mines, New York. 
 
 Cor. Secretary, A. M. Mayer, Ph. D. 
 
 Prof, of Physics, Stevens Inst, of Technology, Hoboken. 
 
 Treasurer, T. Egleston, Prof, of Metallurgy, School of Mines, 
 
 Columbia College, New York. 
 
 Council. 
 
 Hon. Samuel B. Ruggles, LL. D. New York. 
 
 C. S. Lyman, ----- Prof, of Physics, Yale College. 
 Henry Draper, - - Prof, of Chemistry, New York University. 
 
 W. Milnor Roberts, - - Pres't Amer. Soc. of Civil Engineers. 
 
 Melvil Dewey, - - - Sec. Metric Bureau, Boston, Mass. 
 
 H. A. Newton, LL. D., - - Prof, of Mathematics, Yale College. 
 
 T. R. Pynchon, LL. D M D. D., - Pres. Trinity Coll., Hartford, Conn. 
 
 E. B. Elliott, - - - Statistician, U. S. Treas. Dept. 
 
 Wolcott Gibbs, M. D., LL. D., - Prof, of Chemistry, Harvard Univ. 
 
 Cleveland Abbe, » - - * Signal Office, War Dept. 
 
Committees. 
 
 Committee on Units of Force and Energy. 
 H. A. Newton, LL. D m - - Prof, of Mathematics, Yale College. 
 
 Wolcott Gibbs, M. D., LL. D., - Eumford, Prof. Harvard University 
 
 J. E. Hilgabd, U.S. Coast Survey. 
 
 R. H. Thtjbston, Prof, of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Inst, of 
 
 Technology, Hoboken. 
 
 C. S. Peibce, U. S. Coast Survey. 
 
 Committee on International Coinage. 
 E. B. Elliott, - - - Statistician, U. S. Treas. Dept. 
 
 N. M. Beckwith, - - - Com. Gen. to Paris Exposition, 1867. 
 
 C. S. Lyman, .... p ro f. f Physics, Yale College. 
 
 Wolcott Gibbs, M. D., LL. D., - - Rumford, Prof. Harvard Univ. 
 
 Committee on Mural Standards. 
 T. R. Pynchon, LL. D., D. D., - Pres. Trinity Coll., Hartford. 
 
 J. E. Hiegard, - - - . - U. S. Coast Survey. 
 
 Melvtl Dewey, - - - Sec. Metric Bureau, Boston. 
 
 E. B. Elliott, - - Statistician, U. S. Treas. Dept. 
 
 » Committee on Standard Time. 
 
 Cleveland Abbe, .... Signal Office, War Dept. 
 
 E. B. Elliott, - Statistician, U. S. Treas. Dept. 
 
 C. S. Peibce, - - - - U. S. Coast Survey. 
 
 H. A. Newton, LL. D., - - Prof, of Mathematics, Yale College. 
 
 Committee to Memorialize Congress. 
 T. R. Pynchon, LL. D., D. D. r - - Pres. Trinity College, Hartford. 
 
 H. A. Newton, LL. D., - - Prof, of Mathematics, Yale College. 
 
 Hon. S. B. Ruggles, LL.D., ----- New York. 
 
 E. B. Elliott, - Statistician, U. S. Treas. Dept. 
 
 F. A. P. Babnabd, S. T. D., LL. D., L. H. D., - Pres. Columbia College. 
 
 Committee on Variation of Measures. 
 E. B. Elliott, ... - Statistician, U. S. Treas. Dept. 
 
 Hon. J. A. Kasson, - - - U. S. Minister at Vienna, Austria. 
 
 H. A. Newton, LL. D., - - Prof, of Mathematics, Yale College. 
 
 Committee on a Standard Gauge. 
 J. E. Hilgabd, - - - - - U. S. Coast Survey. 
 
 R. H. Thurston, Prof, of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Inst, of 
 
 Technology, Hoboken. 
 
 T. Egleston, E. M., Ph. D., LL. D., Prof, of Mineralogy, School of Mines. 
 Publication Committee. 
 
 President, F. A. P. Babnabd, S. T. D., LL. D , L. H. D., 
 
 Pres. Columbia College. 
 Rec. Secretary, T. Egleston, E. M., Ph. D., LL D., 
 
 Prof, of Metallurgy, School of Mines. 
 
 Cor. Secretary, A. M. Mayeb, Ph. D., Prof, of Physics, Stevens Inst, of 
 
 Technology, Hoboken 
 
CONSTITUTION. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Name. 
 This Association shall be called The American METKOLoeieAn Society. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 Objects of the Society. 
 
 Section 1. — The primary object of this Association shall be to improve 
 the systems of Weights, Measures and Moneys, at present existing among 
 men. and to bring the same, as far as practicable, into relations of simple 
 commensurability with each other. 
 
 Section 2.— A farther object will be to secure the universal adop- 
 tion of common units of measure for the expression of quantities which 
 r squire to be stated in presenting the results of physical observation or inves- 
 tigation, and for which the ordinary systems of metrology do not provide ; 
 such as the divisions of the barometer, thermometer and densimeter ; the 
 amount of work done by machines ; the amount of mechanical energy, active 
 or potential, of bodies, as dependent on their motion or position ; the quan- 
 tities of heat present in bodies at given temperatures, or generated by com- 
 bustion or otherwise ; the quantity and intensity of electro-dynamic currents ; 
 t!io aggregate and the efficient power of prime movers ; the accelerative force 
 of gravity ; the pressure of steam and of the atmosphere ; and other matters 
 analogous to these. The association will endeavor also to secure uniformity 
 of usage in regard to standard points of reference, or to those physical condi- 
 tions to which observations must be reduced for purposes of comparison ; 
 especially the temperature and pressure to which are referred the specific 
 gravities of bodies, and the zero of longitude on the earth . 
 
 Section 3. — In regard to the denominations of weight, measure and mo- 
 ney which are derived from the unit-bases, the Association will labor to secure, 
 us far as may be, the acceptance of the system of decimal derivation ; not ne- 
 cessarily to the exclusion for practical purposes of the binary or other conve- 
 nient methods of division ; but maintained along with such other method*, 
 on account of the facilities for calculation, for reductions, and for comparison 
 of values, afforded by a system which «onforms to that of our numerical 
 notation. 
 
6 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 Modes of Operation. 
 
 Section 1. — The Society will endeavor to carry out the objects set forth 
 in the foregoing article, by appeals addressed to Congress, to the Legislatures 
 of the several States, to Boards of Education, to the higher institutions of 
 learning, and to the directors and teachers of schools of every grade through- 
 out the country ; urging upon thorn the adoption of measures in their several 
 spheres for the diffusion of information as to the present state of the world's 
 metrology, and as to the recont progress of metrological reform, and espe- 
 cially for the instruction as to these matters of the rising generation ; to the 
 end that the people of the country may be early and fully prepared to act 
 intelligently upon the important questions connected with this subject. 
 
 Section 2. — The Society will also invoke the aid and co-operation, for the 
 purposes above stated of bodies organized f :r the consideration of questions 
 of scientific or of social interest, and of Boards of Trade, Chambers of Com- 
 merce, Societies of Engineers, Industrial Associations, professions and trades 
 in this country and elsewhere. 
 
 Section 3.— Upon Scientific bodies, the Society will especially press the 
 importance of opening communications with similar bodies in other countries, 
 with a view to a general agreement upon the values to be henceforth uniform- 
 ly given to the units of measure and points of reference which particularly 
 concern them, or in other words, to the so-called constants of science. 
 
 SEcrioN 4. — They will memorialize Congress from time to time, or so long 
 as it may be necessary, in favor of the enactment of laws requiring the use, 
 in certain departments of the public service, of the metric system of weights 
 and measures where such legislation may tend to relieve commerce of some of 
 its burdens, to facilitate international communication, to promote interna- 
 tional j urisprudence, and to familiarize our own people with the benefits of 
 that system of metrology, with the least interference with their ordinary 
 habits of thought, or daily business. 
 
 Section 5. — The Society will, furthermore, endeavor to promote its 
 objects by appeals addressed directly to the people through the public press ; 
 and by the circulation, so far as its means may allow, of documents designed 
 to inform the public mind, 'or of books adapted to the instruction of youth, 
 as to the defects of the common system of weights and measures, as to the 
 means most proper for its amendment, and as to the great advantages which 
 the acceptance of a universal system would insure to all mankind. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 Organization. 
 Section 1. — The officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice- 
 President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, and a Treasurer, 
 all of whom shall be elected annually, by ballot, and who shall hold their 
 offices for one year and until their successors shall be elected. 
 
Section 2. — A Council consisting of the five officers enumerated in the 
 foregoing section, together with ten other members chosen by ballot at the 
 same time from among the members of the Society not holding office, shall be 
 created with power to conduct the business of the Society in the interval * 
 between the meetings, under such regulations and restrictions as may be im- 
 posed in the By-Laws. A majority of the members of the Council shall con- 
 stitute a quorum. 
 
 Section 3. — The Council shall be charged with the duty of examining all 
 papers which may be presented by members or others, either to be read at the 
 meetings or to b 3 published by the Society; and no papers shall be so read 
 or so published which shall not have first been approved by the Council; but 
 this section shall not limit the right of any member of publishing his own 
 opinions on his own responsibility. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 Of Mei riber ship. 
 
 Section 1. — Any person may be admitted as a member of this Association, 
 after having been duly nominated in the manner hereinafter prescribed, by 
 vote of a majority of the members present at the meeting at which said 
 nomination shall be made. The election may be by viva voce voting or by 
 ballot, as the Society may order. 
 
 Section 2. — All names of persons proposed for membership shall be first 
 presented to the Council, who shall nominate to the Society for election only 
 such as they may approve. 
 
 Section 3. — Every member of the Society shall pay annually to the 
 Treasurer such sum as maybe fixed by the By-Laws under the name of annual 
 dues ; such payment to be made in advance at the time of the annual meeting 
 held for the election of officers. 
 
 Section 4. —Every member shall be at liberty to present to the Society in 
 writing, his views on any subject connected with metrological or monetary 
 reform in any of its aspects, or to present original papers of similar character 
 from persons not members, provided such communications, or abstracts 
 thereof, shall have been examined and their reading approved by the Council. 
 
 Section 5. — Any member of the Society after having been an active 
 member in good standing for five years, may at his own request, be released 
 from the payment of dues, and made an honorary member, retaining all the 
 privileges of membership except the right to hold office or to vote ; but hon- 
 orary membership shall not be conferred upon any person by election, or in 
 any other manner but as herein above provided. Foreign corresponding 
 members of this Association may be nominated by the Council and elected 
 by the Society. 
 
ARTICLE VI. 
 Of Meetings. 
 
 Section 1. — There shall be two stated meetings of the Society annually, 
 (and the members present shall constitute a quorum,) the time and place of 
 which shall be fixed by the By-Laws ; except as to the annual meeting for the 
 election of Officers, which shall be held in the City of New York on the 
 27th, 28th, 29th, or 30th day of December in each year, as the Council may 
 determine. 
 
 Section 2. —Special meetings may be called by the Council, or by a ma- 
 jority of the members of the same, whenever there exist reasons of sufficient 
 importance, in their judgment, to justify such a measure. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 Ajnenduients of the Constitution. 
 This Constitution may be amended by vote of two-thirds of the members 
 present at two successive stated meetings, subject to the following regula- 
 tions : — The first vote may be taken at the stated meeting at which the amend- 
 ment is proposed, but shall not be taken on the same day on which the prepo- 
 sition is made. The second vote shall be taken at the stated meeting next 
 ensuing ; and previously to the assembling in said ensuing meeting, the 
 llecording Secretary shall furnish to every member of the Society a printed 
 copy of said proposed amendment, and a statement of the time at which the 
 same will come up for final action. If, after the observance of these pro vis- 
 iocs, the said proposed amendment shall be a second time sustained by a 
 t^vo-thirds vote, it shall have force and be valid as an integral part of this 
 Constitution. 
 
BY-LAWS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN METROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 Meetings of the Society. 
 
 1. — Previously to the annual meeting, or to any special meeting of the 
 Society, a committee of arrangements shall be appointed by the President, to 
 consist of members resident in the place of the proposed meeting, or of any 
 o;her residents of such place favorable to the objects of the Society, whose duty 
 it shall be to engage suitable apartments for the meeting, and to make such 
 other provisions as may be necessary to facilitate the transaction of business. 
 
 2.— Due notice of every meeting, regular or special, shall be given to 
 every member of the Society by the Recording Secretary. 
 
 3. — Every member attending any meeting shall give his name to the 
 Recording Secretary, or inscribe it in a book provided for the purpose, as 
 early as convenient after his arrival; and, if possible, before the meeting is 
 called to order. 
 
 4. —The meeting shall be called to order at the hour specified in the notice. 
 In the absence of any officer, a member may be appointed to discharge his 
 duties temporarily by a plurality of voices on open nomination. 
 
 5. — The order of business observed in tha meetings shall be as follows: 
 
 1. Report of the Council on the progress of business. 
 
 2. Report of the Treasurer. 
 
 3. Nominations to membership and election of members. 
 
 4. Consideration of questions suggested by the report of the Treasurer. 
 
 5. Consideration, in their order, of matters presented in the report of 
 
 Council, which require the action of the Society. 
 G. Reading of papers. 
 
 7. Discussion of topics suggested by the papers read. 
 
 8. Resolutions. 
 
 9. Miscellaneous business. 
 
 10. Adjournment. But before the vote on adjournment is taken, the 
 Recording Secretary shall read the rough minutes of the meeting 
 
 . of the day for correction and approval; and at the close of the final 
 
 meeting of the session, the Secretary shall read the engrossed 
 
 minutes of the entire session for the same purpose, unless or except 
 
 so far as the reading may be dispensed with by a vote of the Soci afy. 
 
 6 — The order of business may at any time be suspended by vote of a 
 
 majority. 
 
10 
 
 7. — The rules of order to be observed in the transaction of business, shall 
 be those of the Senate of the United States, but these rules may be suspended 
 by unanimous consent. 
 
 Meetings of the Council. 
 
 8. — On the day appointed for any meeting of the Society, the Council shall 
 meet for the preparation of business one hour previously to the hour appointed 
 for such meeting. 
 
 9.— Special meetings of the Council may at any time be called by the 
 President; and it shall be the duty of the President to issue such call on the 
 request, in -writing, of three members of the Council. 
 
 Dues. 
 
 10. — The amount of the annual dues to be paid by each member, under 
 Section 3, Article V. of the Constitution, is fixed at five dollars. 
 
 Publication. 
 
 11.— Publication shall be made cf the proceedings of the Society in such 
 journals as may be disposed to insert them free of charge. Such proceedings 
 shall also be printed under the superintendence of the Becording Secretary, 
 in form suitable for preservation. 
 
 12. — A committee on the publication of papers shall be appointed by the 
 Council, who shall have authority, so far as the means of the Society may 
 allow, to publish for general distribution any document proper to diffuse 
 information among the people as to the advantages of an improved metrology, 
 or of the unification of the monetary systems of the world. 
 
 Correspondence. 
 
 13. — The President and Corresponding Secretary shall take measures to 
 establish a correspondence between this Society and any others instituted for 
 similar purposes in this country or abroad, and shall invite an interchange of 
 opinions with such, as to the most judicious measures to be jointly or severally 
 adopted for the attainment of their common objects. They shall present 
 copies of the publications of this Society to all such associations, and solicit a 
 reciprocation of similar good offices. 
 
 14. — The same oncers shall also maintain with scientific and other organ- 
 ized bodies in the United States and in foreign countries, such communications 
 as the Council may direct, having in view to give effect to the provisions of 
 Section 2, Article II. and of Sections 2 and 3, Article III. of the Constitution. 
 
 Financial Control. 
 
 15. — An auditing committee shall be appointed by the Council, whose 
 duty it shall be to make an examination of the accounts of the Treasurer at the 
 close of each year, and who shall report to the Council before the annual 
 meeting. 
 
11 
 
 Contributions. 
 16. — For the purpose of meeting any expenditures which may seem to bd 
 necessary in order to carry out important measures to which the resources of 
 the Society may be inadequate, the Council are authorized, in their discretion, 
 to invite contributions from the friends of metrological or monetary reform, 
 for the accomplishment of such objects. 
 
 Property of the Society. 
 
 17. — The Council shall endeavor to obtain, by purchase or otherwise, for 
 the use of the Society, all publications relating to monetary or metrological 
 systems, which, in their judgment, it maybe desirable to possess; and all 
 books or documents thus acquired, and all other movable property of the 
 Society, except its funds, shall remain, until otherwise ordered, in the custody 
 of the Becording Secretary. 
 
 18. — A stamp or label bearing the name of the Society shall be affixed to 
 every book, document or other article of property belonging to the Society. 
 
 Forfeiture of Membership. 
 
 19. — Any member whose dues shall have remained in arrears for two 
 entire years, and who shall, on notice given by the Treasurer, fail to make 
 payment of the same within three months after the service of such notice, shall 
 be liable to forfeit his right to membership and to have his name dropped 
 from the roll. 
 
 20. — Any member of whom any act shall have been proved unbecoming 
 an association of gentlemen, may be excluded from this Association by a vote 
 of the majority of the members present at the meeting when such proof shall 
 have been submitted ; but no member shall be so proceeded against who shall 
 not have had notice of the imputations made upon him, and have had full 
 opportunity for defence. 
 
 Amendments. 
 
 21.— These By-Laws may be amended by vote of a majority of the mem- 
 bers of the Council, provided that notice of the proposed amendment shall 
 have been duly given to every member of the Council one month before action 
 is taken. Votes on amendments may be given by proxy, communicated 
 under seal to the Becording Secretary, to be opened by him in presence of 
 the President. 
 
14 DAY USE 
 
 RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED 
 LOAN DEPT. 
 
 This book is due on the last date stamped below, or 
 
 on the date to which renewed. 
 
 Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. 
 
 d flN 7 '6S - 9 AM 
 
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