132
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132
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Transcription
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This means that any decrease in elevation number would be a higher point than a lower number. A reading of -200 meters was below a reading of -199. All readings in the Jordan valley were below sea level.
In order for me to make the necessary calculations, I had to use my hand books. I had to convert the metric bench mark readings to feet and inches. Instead of -200 meters I would have -659' 5". A -199 meters would be - 656' 2". This was before the days of hand calculators, I used a slide rule and pencil and paper. If I wanted to irrigate a 10-acre field and apply 1 acre-foot of water. I apply 1233.62 Cubic meters of water to 4.047 hectars [sic].
The metric system uses the decimal point and is easy to calculate. One hundred centimeters is a meter. One hundred meters, a kilometer. For us it takes 12 inches to make a foot, 36 inches to make yard, 5280 feet in a mile or 146.66 yards.
Fortunately I did not make any serious mistakes in design. I tried to run water up hill once or twice, because I forgot to put the minus sign before my figures, The Jordanian engineers would often have a good laugh. My Jordanian counterparts, all of them young enough to be my sons, had PhD's from American Universities and knew the metric system. The only help I could give them came from my practical experience of 30 years. These boys were all Palestinian, and my experience with them was very rewarding for me, they were well educated, and capable people.
I have never forgiven the U.S. government for its position on the Arab-Israel issue, local politics have made our foreign policy decisions, and some of the blood spilled in the Middle East is on our hands
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Rights
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Metzger Memories
