Two items: A marathon is 42.195 km. Just as odd a distance as the old 26 miles 385 yards, which was the distance to some queen's viewing position way back when. But the 1500m is an international, and Olympic, and college (and in some states, high school) standard middle distance distance run. There was also a 1500m sprint x-country ski event in the Salt Lake Olympics. The 1600, unfortunately, is a sort of bastardized mile that many states, including California, cling to in high school track.
On mandated dual-scale measuring devices: Not a bad idea, perhaps (but I can already hear the down side!). Quite possibly the federal "intervention" could be based on the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which allows all sorts of regulation of almost anything that could affect commerce among the various states, even remotely. Remember when car radios were all AM, and you had to hunt around to find a FM model? That all changed after all car radios were required to carry both bands. That was based on the FCC's power to control radio frequencies, which is a part of interstate commerce. There may be something worth pursuing here. HARRY WYETH
