The cover letter did not receive the attention it deserved, but I think it still stands as the best core thinking for U.S. metrication. This was no pipe dream statement drawn up by a few far thinkers, but rather, the official recommendation of the U.S. official (the Secretary of Commerce) who would be charged, later on, with the interpretation or modification of SI for the United States. It must be used again.
Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: Martin Vlietstra To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: 11 April, 2009 15:12 Subject: [USMA:44588] Re: cover letter of 1971 U.S. metric report I am reminded of the Biblical story of the master who asked his servants to look after his wealth while he went on a journey. He entrusted five talents to one servant, three to another and one to the third. When he returned, the servant to whom he had entrusted five talents had doubled his master's wealth; likewise the one to whom he had entrusted three talents. The master was well pleased with both these servants. However the one to whom the master had entrusted one talent had buried the money and returned that one talent to his master. The master was displeased with that servant. The care and planning with which the US Government (and the UK Government for that matter) approached metrication makes me think of the third servant. The approach taken by the Australian and South African Governments was more akin to the first two servants. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John M. Steele Sent: 11 April 2009 16:31 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:44581] Re: cover letter of 1971 U.S. metric report That was so worthwhile that I submitted the image to my OCR software. I think I caught most of the errors. However, all the "bullet points" are a single level of long dashes, my OCR threw some artifacts on those. For anyone who has trouble viewing the image, converted body text follows: THE HONORABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE THE HONORABLE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIRS: I have the honor to transmit to you the Report on the U.S. Metric Study, which was conducted by the National Bureau of Standards of the Department of Commerce. Thousands of individuals, firms and organized groups, representative of our society, participated in the Study. After weighing the extensive evidence presented by these participants, this report concludes that the United States should change to the metric system through a coordinated national program. I agree with this conclusion, and therefore recommend -That the United States change to the International Metric System deliberately and carefully: a.. That this be done through a coordinated national program; b.. That the Congress assign the responsibility for guiding the change, and anticipating the kinds of special problems described in the report, to a central coordinating body responsive to all sectors of our society; -That within this guiding framework, detailed plans and timetables be worked out by these sectors themselves: a.. That early priority be given to educating every American schoolchild and the public at large to think in metric terms: b.. That immediate steps be taken by the Congress to foster U.S. participation in international standards activities; -That in order to encoutage efficiency and minimize the overall costs to society, the general rule should he that any changeover costs shall "lie where they fall"; -That the Congress, after deciding on a plan for the nation, establish a target date ten years ahead, by which time the U.S. will have become predominantly, though not exclusively, metric: a.. That there be a firma government commitment to this goal. The Department of Commerce stands ready to provide whatever further assistance the Congress may require in working out a national plan and putting it into effect. Respectfully submitted, Maurice H. Stans Secretary of Commerce --- On Sat, 4/11/09, Paul Trusten <[email protected]> wrote: From: Paul Trusten <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:44571] cover letter of 1971 U.S. metric report To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, April 11, 2009, 3:23 AM The late Commerce Secretary Maurice Stans' words are, I believe, an excellent guide for the Nation to follow today (attached; may require magnification). Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association, Inc. www.metric.org 3609 Caldera Blvd. Apt. 122 Midland, Texas 79707-2872 US +1(432)528-7724 [email protected]
