Act of July 28, 1866, Public Law 39-183, 14 STAT 339, which authorized the use of the metric system of weights and measures
7/28/1866
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[page 1][handwritten at top of page] H.R. 596
Pub. 183
Thirty-ninth
[typeset] Congress of the United States
At the [handwritten] first [end handwritten] Session
BEGUN AND HELD AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON
in the District of Columbia
on. Monday the [handwritten fourth [end handwritten] day of December one thousand
eight hundred and [handwritten] sixty-five [end handwritten]
[printed line across middle of page]
AN ACT [handwritten] To authorize the use of the metric system of Weights and
Measures [end handwritten]
[printed line across middle of page]
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled.
That [rest of document is handwritten] from and after passage of this act, it shall be
lawful throughout the United States of America to employ the weights and measures of
the metric system; and no contract, or dealing, or pleading in any court shall be deemed
invalid, or liable to objection because the weights or measures expressed or referred to
therein are weights or measures of the metric system.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the tables in the schedule hereto annexed shall
be recognized in the construction of contracts, and in all legal proceedings, as
establishing, in terms of the weights and measures now in use in the United States, the
equivalents of weights and measures expressed therein in terms of the metric system;
and said tables may be lawfully used for computing, determining, and expressing in
customary weights and measures, the weights and measures of the metric system.
[chart with three columns]
Measures of Length.
Metric Denominations and Values
Myriameter 10,000 meters
Kilometer 1,000 meters
Hectometer 100 meters
Dekameter 10 meters
Meter 1 meter
Decimeter 1/10 of a meter
Centimeter 1/100 of a meter
Millimeter 1/1000 of a meter
Equivalents in Denominations in Use
6.2137 miles.
0.62137 miles, or 3280 feet and ten inches.
328 feet and 1 inch.
393.7 inches.
39.37 inches.
3.937 inches.
0.3937 inches.
0.0394 inches.
[chart with three columns]
Measures of Surface.
Metric Denominations and Values
Hectare 10,000 square meters
Are 100 square meters
Centare 1 square meter
Equivalents in Denominations in Use
2.471 acres.
119.6 square yards.
1550. Square inches.
[page 2]
[chart with five columns]
Measures of Capacity
Metric Denominations and Values
Names
Kiloliter, or stere
Hectoliter
Dekaliter
Liter
Deciliter
Centiliter
Milliliter
Number of liters
1,000
100
10
1
1/10
1/100
1/1000
Cubic Measures
1 cubic meter.
1/10 of a cubic meter.
10 cubic decimeters.
1 cubic decimeter.
1/10 of a cubic decimeter.
10 cubic centimeters.
1 cubic centimeter.
Equivalents in Denominations in Use
Dry Measure Liquid or Wine Measures.
1.308 cubic yards
2 bushels and 3.35 pecks
9.08 quarts
0.908 quarts
6.1022 cubic inches
0.6102 cubic inches
0.061 cubic inches
Liquid or Wine Measures.
264.1 gallons.
26.417 gallons.
2.6417 gallons.
1.0567 quarts.
0.845 gills.
0.338 fluid ounces.
0.27 fluid drams.
[chart with four columns]
Weights
Metric Denominations and Values Equivalents in Denominations in Use
Names
Millleror tonnea
Quintal
Myriagram
Kilogram or Kilo
Hectogram
Dekagram
Gram
Decigram
Centigram
Milligram
Number of grams
1,000,000
100,000
10,000
1,000
100
10
1
1/10
1/100
1/1000
weight of what quantity of
water at maximum density
1 cubic meter
1 hectoliter
10 liters
1 liter
1 deciliter
10 cubic centimeters
1 cubic centimeter
1/10 of a cubic centimeter
10 cubic millimetes
1 cubic millimeter
[?] weight
2204.6 pounds.
220.46 pounds.
22.046 pounds.
2.2046 pounds.
3.5274 ounces.
0.3527 ounces.
15.432 grains.
1.5432 grains.
0.1543 grains.
0.0154 grains.
[signed] Schuyler Colfax
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
[signed] La Fayette S. Foster
President of the Senate pro tempore.
[signed] Approved July 28th 1866
Andrew Johnson
This primary source comes from the General Records of the United States Government.
National Archives Identifier: 299822
Full Citation: Act of July 28, 1866, Public Law 39-183, 14 STAT 339, which authorized the use of the metric system of weights and measures; 7/28/1866; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/act-of-july-28-1866-public-law-39183-14-stat-339-which-authorized-the-use-of-the-metric-system-of-weights-and-measures, March 19, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
