America Before Standard Weights and Measures, continued

The rationale behind a locality's adoption of a particular measure was often obscure. The port of Alexandria, Virginia used a bushel measure which was used in England for a time around 1266. With the addition of New York to the British colonies in 1664, a whole new set of Dutch measures was introduced. After the American Revolution, French and Spanish measures were brought into the mix as the young nation expanded to encompass Louisiana and Florida.

Several early Presidents, fearing that American commerce could be injured by such diversity, encouraged Congress to exercise the power granted it in the Constitution to "fix the Standard of Weights and Measures." These Executive proddings were in vain. Congress remained reluctant to take action in this sphere.

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