The Writer's Desk Book Being a Reference Volume upon Questions of Punctuation, Capitalization, Spelling, Division of Words, Indention, Spacing, Italics, Abbreviations, Accents, Numerals, Faulty Diction, Letter Writing, Postal Regulations, Etc.

Part 9

Chapter 93,189 wordsPublic domain

+------+---------+----------+------------------------------ Country | A | B | C | Coins ------------------+------+---------+----------+------------------------------ Argentine Republic|Gold |Peso |$0.965 | Gold — argentine ($4.824) and | | | | 1/2 argentine. Silver — peso | | | | and divisions Austria-Hungary |Gold |Crown | .203 | Gold — 10 and 20 crowns. | | | | Silver — 1 and 5 crowns Belgium |Gold |Franc | .193 | Gold — 10 and 20 francs. | | | | Silver — 5 francs Bolivia |Silver|Boliviano| .389 | Silver boliviano and divisions Brazil |Gold |Milreis | .546 | Gold — 5, 10, 20 milreis. | | | | Silver — 1/2, 1, 2 milreis British Honduras |Gold |Dollar | 1.000 | Canada | | | | (except Nfd.) |Gold |Dollar | 1.000 | | | | | Cent. Amer. | | | | States— | | | | Costa Rica |Gold |Colon | .465 | Gold — 2, 5, 10, and 20 colons | | | | ($9.307). Silver — 5, 10, 25, | | | | and 50 centimos Guatemala, | | | | Honduras, | | | | Nicaragua, & | | | | Salvador |Silver|Peso | .391 | Silver — peso and divisions Chili |Gold |Peso | .365 | Gold — escudo ($1.825), | | | | doubloon($3.650), and condor | | | | ($7.300). | | | | Silver — peso and divisions | |[29]Tael:| | | | Canton | .612 | China |Silver| Haikwan | .652 | | | Hongkong| .421 | | | | | {146} | | | | | | | | China |Silver|Dollar: | | | | British|$0.421 | | | Mexican| .424 | Colombia | Gold |Dollar | 1.000 | Gold — condor ($9.647); | | | | d’ble-condor. Silver — peso Denmark | Gold |Crown | .268 | Gold — 10 and 20 crowns Ecuador | Gold |Sucre | .487 | Gold — 10 sucres ($4.8665). | | | | Silver — sucre and div. Egypt | Gold |Pound | 4.943 | Gold — pound (100 piasters), | | (100 pi-| | 5, 10, 20, 50 piasters | | asters) | | Silver — 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 | | | | piasters Finland | Gold |Mark | .193 | Gold — 20 marks ($3.859), 10 | | | | marks ($1.93) France | Gold |Franc | .193 | Gold — 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 | | | | francs. Silver — 5 francs German Empire | Gold |Mark | .238 | Gold — 5, 10, and 20 marks Great Britain | Gold |Pound |4.866 1/2 | Gold — sovereign (pound | | Sterling| | sterling), 1/2 sovereign Greece | Gold |Drachma | .193 | Gold — 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 | | | | drachmas. Sil. — 5 drachmas Haiti | Gold |Gourde | .965 | Gold — 1, 2, 5, 10 gourdes. | | | | Silver — gourde and div. India (British) | Gold |Pound |4.866 1/2 | Gold — sovereign (pound | | Sterl- | | sterling). Silver — rupee | | ing[30] | | and divisions Italy | Gold |Lira | .193 | Gold — 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 | | | | lire. Silver — 5 lire Japan | Gold |Yen | .498 | Gold — 5, 10, and 20 yen. | | | | Silver — 10, 20, and 50 yen Liberia | Gold |Dollar |1.000 | Mexico | Gold |Peso[31] | .498 | Gold — 5, 10 pesos. Silver — | | | | dollar (or peso) and div. Netherlands | Gold |Florin | .402 | Gold — 10 florins. Silver — | | | | 2 1/2. 1 florin and | | | | divisions Newfoundland | Gold |Dollar |1.014 | Gold — 2 dollars ($2.028) | | | | {147} | | | | | | | | Norway | Gold |Crown | .268 | Gold — 10 and 20 crowns Panama | Gold |Balboa |1.000 | Gold — 1, 2 1/2, 5, 10, 20 | | | | balboas. Silver — peso and | | | | div. Persia |Silver|Kran | .072 | Gold — 1/2, 1 and 2 tomans | | | | ($3.409). Silver — 1/4, 1/2, | | | | 1, 2, and 5 krans Peru | Gold |Libra |4.866 1/2 | Gold — 1/2 and 1 libra. | | | | Silver — sol and divisions Philippine Islands| Gold |Peso | .500 | Silver peso — 10, 20 and 50 | | | | centavos Portugal | Gold |Milreis |1.080 | Gold — 1, 2, 5 and 10 milreis Russia | Gold |Ruble | .515 | Gold — 5, 7 1/2, 10, and 15 | | | | rubles. Silver — 5, 10, 15, | | | | 20, 25, 50, and 100 copeks Spain | Gold |Peseta | .193 | Gold — 25 pesetas. Silver — 5 | | | | pesetas Straits | Gold |Pound |4.866 1/2 | Gold — sovereign (pound Settlements | | Sterl- | | sterling). Sil. — dol. and | | ing[32] | | div. Sweden | Gold |Crown | .268 | Gold — 10 and 20 crowns Switzerland | Gold |Franc | .193 | Gold — 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 | | | | francs. Silver — 5 francs Turkey | Gold |Piaster | .044 | Gold — 25, 50, 100, 250, and | | | | 500 piasters Uruguay | Gold |Peso |1.034 | Gold — peso. Silver — peso and | | | | divisions Venezuela | Gold |Bolivar | .193 | Gold — 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 | | | | bolivars. Silver — 5 | | | | bolivars ------------------+------+---------+----------+-------------------------------

[29] Amoy, .641; Cheefoo, .613; Chin Kiang, .626; Fuchau, .593; Hankau, .599; Kiaochu, .621; Nanking, .634; Newchang, .601; Ningpo, .616; Peking, .625; Shanghai, .585; Swatow, .592; Takau, .645; Tientsin, .621.

[30] The sovereign is the standard coin of India, but the rupee ($0.3244 1/2) is the current coin, valued at 15 to the sovereign.

[31] Seventy-five centigrams fine gold.

[32] The current coin of the Straits Settlements is the silver dollar issue on government account and which has been given a tentative value of $0.567758 1/3.

NOTE. — The coins of silver-standard countries are valued by their pure silver contents at the average market price of silver for the three months preceding the date of this table. (Courtesy _The World Almanac_.)

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COMPARATIVE THERMOMETERS

Réaumur Centigrade Fahrenheit 80 100 212 Water boils at sea-level 76 95 203 72 90 194 68 85 185 63.1 78.9 174 Alcohol boils 60 75 167 56 70 158 52 65 149 White of egg coagulates 48 60 140 44 55 131 42.2 52.8 127 40 50 122 36 45 113 Tallow melts 33.8 42.2 108 32 40 104 29.3 36.7 98 Blood heat 28 35 95 25.8 32.2 90 24 30 86 21.3 26.7 80 20 25 77 16 20 68 Temperate 12.4 15.3 60 10.2 12.8 55 8 10 50 5.8 7.2 45 4 5 41 1.3 1.7 35 0 0 32 Water freezes 0.9 - 1.1 30 4 - 9 23 5.3 - 6.7 20 8 -10 14 9.8 -12.2 10 12 -15 5 14.2 -17.8 0 Zero Fahr. {149} 16 -20 - 4 20 -25 -13 24 -30 -22 28 -35 -31 32 -40 -40 Mercury freezes

_To change from centigrade to Fahrenheit multiply by 9, divide by 5, and add 32. To change from Réaumur to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9, divide by 4, and add 32._

(Courtesy _The World Almanac_)

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

THE METRIC SYSTEM

Multiples which are used equally with all the principal units M (myria = 10000) K (kilo = 1000) H (hekto = 100) D (deka = 10) (NOTE. These are Greek numerals)

Divisions which are used equally with all the principle units d (deci = .1) c (centi = .01) m (milli = .001) (NOTE. These are Latin numerals)

+-------------+--------------------------+-----------------------------+ | Kinds of | Principal Units | Definitions | | Quantities | | | | Measured | | | +-------------+--------------------------+-----------------------------+ Length m (meter)

Area sq. m (square meter)

a (Ar) 1 sq. Dm.

Volume cu m (cubic meter)

s (ster) 1 cu. m.

l (liter) 1 cu. d m

Weight g (gram) Weight of 1 cu. cm. of pure water at 4° centigrade

NOTE. 1000 kg. is called t. (a metric ton.)

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LINEAR MEASURE

12 in. = 1 foot 3 ft. = 1 yd. 5 1/2 yds. = 1 rod 320 rds. = 1 mile 5280 ft. = 1 mile 3 miles = 1 league

The hand (4 in.) is used to measure the height of horses. The nautical mile is 6086.44 ft. 1 knot is 1.1528 statute miles. 1 degree is 67.168 statute miles.

SQUARE MEASURE

144 sq. in. = 1 sq. ft. 9 sq. ft. = 1 sq. yd. 30 1/4 sq. yds. = 1 sq. rod 160 sq. rods = 1 acre 640 acres = 1 sq. mile

The side of a square having an area of an acre is approximately 208 3/4 feet.

DRY MEASURE

2 pints = 1 quart 8 quarts = 1 peck 4 pecks = 1 bushel

LIQUID MEASURE

4 gills = 1 pt. 2 pts. = 1 qt. 4 qts. = 1 gall. 31 1/2 gall. = 1 barrel 2 barrels = 1 hogshead

APOTHECARIES’ WEIGHT

20 grains = 1 scruple 3 scruples = 1 dram 8 drams = 1 ounce 12 ounces = 1 pound

AVOIRDUPOIS WEIGHT

16 drams = 1 ounce 16 ounces = 1 pound 100 pounds = 1 hundredweight 20 hundredweights = 1 ton Long ton = 2240 pounds, used mostly in Great Britain.

TROY WEIGHT

24 grains = 1 pennyweight 20 pennyweights = 1 ounce 12 ounces = 1 pound 1 carat in diamond, measure = 3.2 Troy grains.

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PAPER MEASURE

24 sheets = 1 quire 20 quires = 1 ream 2 reams = 1 bundle 5 bundles = 1 bale

TIME MEASURE

60 seconds = 1 minute 60 minutes = 1 hour 24 hours = 1 day 7 days = 1 week 28, 29, 30, or 31 days = 1 calendar month (30 days = 1 month in computing interest) 365 days = 1 year 366 days = 1 leap year

CIRCULAR MEASURE

60 seconds = 1 minute 60 minutes = 1 degree 30 degrees = 1 sign 90 degrees = 1 quadrant 4 quadrants = 12 signs, or 360 degrees = 1 circle

CLOTH MEASURE

2 1/4 inches = 1 nail 4 nails = 1 quarter 4 quarters = 1 yard

MARINERS’ MEASURE

6 feet = 1 fathom 120 fathoms = 1 cab. le’th. 7 1/2 cable lengths = 1 mile 5280 feet = 1 stat. mile 6085 feet = 1 naut. mile

MISCELLANEOUS

3 inches = 1 palm 4 inches = 1 hand 6 inches = 1 span 18 inches = 1 cubit 21.8 in. = 1 Bible cubit 2 1/2 ft. = 1 military pace

SURVEYORS’ MEASURE

7.92 inches = 1 link 25 links = 1 rod 4 rods = 1 chain 10 square chains or 160 square rods = 1 acre 640 acres = 1 sq. mile 36 sq. miles (6 miles sq.) = 1 township

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CUBIC MEASURE

1728 cubic in. = 1 cub. ft. 27 cubic ft. = 1 cubic yd. 128 c. ft. = 1 cord (wood) 40 cub. ft. = 1 ton (shpg.) 2150.42 cubic inches = 1 standard bushel 268.8 cubic inches = 1 standard gallon 1 cubic foot = about four-fifths of a bushel

METRIC EQUIVALENTS

_Linear Measure_

1 centimeter = 0.3937 in. 1 in. = 2.54 centimeters 1 decimeter = 3.937 in. = 0.328 feet 1 ft. = 3.048 decimeters 1 meter = 39.37 in. = 1.0936 yards 1 yard = 0.9144 meter 1 dekameter = 1.9884 rods 1 rod = 0.5029 dekameter 1 kilometer = 0.62137 mile 1 mile = 1.6093 kilometers

_Square Measure_

1 sq. centimeter = 0.1550 sq. in. 1 sq. inch = 6452 square centimeters 1 sq. decimeter = 0.1076 sq. ft. 1 sq. foot = 9.2903 square decimeters 1 sq. meter = 1.196 sq. yd. 1 sq. yd. = 0.8361 sq. m’r. 1 are = 3.954 sq. rd. 1 sq. rd. = 0.2529 are 1 hektar = 2.47 acres 1 acre = 0.4047 hektar 1 sq. kilometer = 0.386 sq. m. 1 sq. m. = 2.59 sq. kilometers

_Measure of Volume_

1 cu. centimeter = 0.061 cu. in. 1 cu. in. = 16.39 cu. centimeters 1 cu. decimeter = 0.0353 cu. ft. 1 cu. ft. = 28.317 cu. decimeters 1 cu. mr. = 1.308 cu. yd. 1 cu. yd. = 0.7646 cu. mr. 1 cu. mr. = 0.2759 cd. 1 stere = 1.308 cu. yd. 1 cord = 3.624 steres 1 stere = 0.2759 cd. 1 liter = 0.908 qt. dry 1 qt. dry = 1.101 liters 1 liter = 1.0567 qt. liq. 1 qt. liq. = 0.9463 liter 1 dekaliter = 2.6417 gal. 1 gal. = 0.3785 dekaliter 1 dekaliter = .135 pks. 1 peck = 0.881 dekaliter 1 hektoliter = 2.8375 bush. 1 bus. = 0.3524 hektoliter

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_Weights_

1 gram. = 0.03527 ounce 1 ounce = 28.85 grams. 1 kilogram = 2.2046 lbs. 1 lb. = 0.4536 kilogram 1 metric ton = 1.1023 English ton 1 English ton = 0.9072 metric ton

British Weights and Measures

The British Weights and Measures Act of 1878, which superseded all previous laws upon the subject, enacts the measures which may legally be used in the United Kingdom. These are based upon the Standard Yard and the Standard Pound.

Further Acts of Parliament were passed in 1889 and 1904 dealing with the question of verification of weights and measures, and regulations were issued by the Board of Trade in 1907 respecting the inspection and stamping of weights and measures.

The Yard and the Pound are the only two independent standards for weights and measures, as the Gallon, the standard of capacity, both for dry and liquid measure, is not independent, but is based upon the Pound. The Gallon is defined in the Act of 1878 as the volume of ten Imperial Standard Pounds weight of distilled water weighed in air against brass weights, with the water and air at the temperature of 62° Fahrenheit and the barometer at 30 inches.

The multiples and subdivisions of the Standard Yard, Pound, and Gallon, as laid {154} down in the Act of 1878, are as follows; the legal abbreviations are given in brackets:

1. MEASURES OF LENGTH

12 inches (_in._) = 1 foot (_ft._) 3 feet = 1 YARD (_yd._) 5 1/2 yards = 1 rod, pole, or perch 4 poles = 1 chain or 100 links 10 chains = 1 furlong 8 furlongs = 1 mile

2. MEASURES OF WEIGHT

7000 grains (_gr._) = 1 POUND (_lb._)

Also

16 drams (_dr._) = 1 ounce (_oz._) 16 ounces = 1 POUND (_lb._) 14 pounds = 1 stone 8 stone = 1 hundredweight (_cwt._) 20 hundredweights = 1 ton

3. MEASURES OF CAPACITY

4 gills = 1 pint 2 pints = 1 quart 4 quarts = 1 GALLON 2 gallons = 1 peck 4 pecks = 1 bushel 8 bushels = 1 quarter 36 bushels = 1 chaldron

4. MEASURES OF LAND

40 square perches = 1 rood 4 roods = 1 acre

For certain special purposes, the following are also authorized by the Act of 1878 or by Order in Council under the Act:

1. For weighing gold and silver and precious stones: {155}

The Troy ounce, equal in weight to 480 grains. In dealing with quantities less than an ounce, the ounce is divided decimally, _not_ into grains. Larger quantities than an ounce are stated in ounces. There is _no_ Troy pound.

2. For the use of apothecaries and for selling drugs retail:

(_a_) MEASURES OF WEIGHT

20 grains = 1 scruple (℈) 3 scruples = 1 drachm (ʒ) 8 drachms = 1 Apothecaries’ ounce (_oz. Apoth._)

(_b_) MEASURES OF CAPACITY

60 minims (_min._) = 1 fluid drachm (_fl. dr._) 8 fluid drachms = 1 fluid ounce (_fl. oz._)

Of the Apothecaries’ measure of weight, the grain is the same as the Imperial grain; and the Apothecaries’ ounce contains 480 grains, like the Troy ounce. But, of the measures of capacity, the Apothecaries’ _drachm_ is not the same as the Imperial _dram_, and the two words are spelt differently. A fluid ounce of distilled water at a temperature of 62° Fahrenheit is equal in weight to the Imperial ounce (437.5 grains), and the _fluid drachm_ (54.6875 grains) is equal in weight to two Imperial _drams_.

ELECTRICAL MEASURES

It is customary to express electrical measures in terms of the centimeter, the gramme, and the second, and the value of the units {156} has been fixed by international agreement. The principal units, as described in the Order in Council of January 10, 1910, are as follows:

The OHM, the unit of resistance, is the resistance offered to an unvarying electric current by a column of mercury, at the temperature of melting ice, 14.4521 grammes in mass, of a constant cross-sectional area, and of a length of 106.3 centimeters.

The AMPERE, the unit of current, is the unvarying electric current which, when passed through a solution of nitrate of silver in water, deposits silver at the rate of 0.001118 of a gramme per second.

The VOLT, the unit of pressure, is the pressure which, when steadily applied to a conductor whose resistance is one ohm, will produce a current of one ampere.

The WATT, the unit of power, is 1/746 of one horse-power, the horse-power being 33,000 lb. raised one foot in one minute. The Board of Trade unit is 1000 Watt-hours.

In carbon lamps of 16-candle power (nominal) about four watts are required per candle power to give good economical results for domestic purposes. One Board of Trade unit will keep a 16-candle carbon lamp alight for about 16 hours; metallic filament lamps require considerably less. {157}

MEASURES FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES

_Builders’ Measurements_

Stock or kiln bricks 8 3/4 inches × 4 1/4 × 2 3/4 Welsh fire-bricks 9 inches × 4 1/2 × 2 3/4 Paving bricks 9 inches × 4 1/2 × 1 3/4 Square tiles 9 3/4 inches × 9 3/4 × 1 Square tiles 6 inches × 6 × 1 Dutch clinker bricks 9 1/4 inches × 3 × 1 1/2

A Rod of Brickwork 16 1/2 feet × 16 1/2 feet × 1 1/2 brick thick = 306 cubic feet, or 11 1/3 cubic yards, and contains about 4500 bricks with about 75 cubic feet of mortar.

Ordinary bricks weigh about 7 lb. each; a load of 500 weighs about 1 ton 11 cwt. 1 qr.

A Piece of Wall Paper is 12 yd. long × 21 in. wide (English), and 9 yd. × 18 in. (French).

_Timber and Wood_

40 cubic feet rough, 50 cubic feet squared = 1 load 50 cubic feet of planks = 1 load 100 superficial feet = 1 square of flooring 120 Deals = 100

Width of Battens, 7 inches; Deals, 9 inches; Planks are 2 to 4 inches thick, and 10 or 11 inches wide. A Cord of Wood is 2 1/2 tons, or 128 cubic feet.

_Corn_

Wheat and other cereals are commonly sold by weight, the bushel being thus reckoned:

Wheat, English, 60 lb. Foreign, 62 lb. Barley, English, 50 lb. French, 52 1/2 lb. Mediterranean, 50 lb. {158} Oats, English, 39 lb. Foreign, 38 and 40 lb. Rye and Maize, 60 lb. Buckwheat, 52 lb.

_Hay and Straw_

Truss of Straw, 36 lb. Truss of Old Hay, 56 lb. Truss of New Hay (to September 1), 60 lb. Load, 36 Trusses — Straw, 11 cwt. 2 qr. 8 lb.; Old Hay, 18 cwt.; New Hay, 19 cwt. 1 qr. 4 lb.

_Yard Measures_

_Cotton and Spun Silk Count._ — Thread = 1 1/2 yards; Lea, or Skein, _skn._ = 120 yards; Hank, _hk_ = 7 Skeins, or Leas = 840 yards; Spindle, _spdl._ = 18 Hanks; counts = the number of Hanks in 1 lb.; Bundle Hanks, either of 5 lb. or 10 lb.; Reels of Cotton vary from 30 to 1760 yards; they must be marked correctly. Bundles of Cotton are chiefly made up for export.

_Worsted Count._ — Wrap, 80 yards; Hank = 560 yards = 7 Wraps. Counts or Numbers are the number of hanks in a lb.

_Linen Count._ — The Hank or Lea is 300 yards, and the number of these in 1 lb. is the count of the yarn. A Spindle is 48 hanks; a Bundle is 200 hanks.

_West of England Count._ — The Hank is 320 yards, and the number of hanks in 1 lb. is the count of the yarn. {159}

_Size of Barrel_ Gals. Firkin or Quarter Barrel 9 Anker (10 gallons) 10 Kilderkin, Rundlet, or 1/2 Barrel 18 Barrel 36 Tierce (42 gallons) 42 Hogshead of Ale (1 1/2 barrels) 54 Puncheon 72 Butt of Ale 108

In the British Dependencies

The Imperial weights and measures are the legal standards in the British Dominions and in India. In some Colonies the Metric system may also be used. In certain Colonies and in India, the old local measures are still employed to a considerable extent. Among these are the following:

INDIAN WEIGHTS (_Bengal_)

Tola, unit of postage = 180 grains Chittak = 5 Tolas; Seer (16 Chittaks) = 2 9/35 lb. Imperial or Indian Maund = 82 2/7 lb. = 40 seer

_Madras_

Viss = 3.09 lbs., Maund = 25 lb., Candy = 500 lb.

SOUTH AFRICAN LAND MEASURES

Cape Morgen = 2.11654 English Acres Cape Feet = 1.033 English Feet Cape Rood = 12.396 English Feet

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European Countries

The metric system of weights and measures has been adopted in the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Rumania, Servia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

In _Russia_ the standard of length is the Sachine, which is equal to seven British feet; the standard of weight is the Pound, equal to nine-tenths of the British pound. The other measures are:

1. MEASURES OF LENGTH