The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-10-30
SHORT WEIGHT IN COAL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THr uxpArp-


SiR-In one Of last weeks HERALDs you referred to
the cheating in the coal trade of this city, gave your
remedy for It's correcton-whch was IL remember
rectly to oblge the coal dealers to have certain
sure by which they should be guided, to have the
coal in bags, and, at the time, have scale and
weights with the cart by which the public could try the
weight and know what they getting. To have
certain would be impossible for the reason that
ton weight of anthracite coal will very diff
fcrent from different veins. That is-the Iackawanna,
for instance, will measure nearly four bushels in the
ton more than Lehigh, and Schuylk red ash will
more than Schuylkl white ash; and even in diff
ferent red ash veins there will be difference of two
measuring would not protect the pubic Set He" do
think having it in bags is any protection even If it
were practicable for Of course you might well trust
scales with their carts
think it would be better plan if the Mayor would
any driving cart load of coal to drive the near
est public scales; if there not public scales, to
incorrect to drive to another coal yard scale to satisfy
the inspector Of its ncurrectness and to impose fine
in proportion to its deficiency the dealer who should
send It out for correct ton and also to expose such
dealer by publication.
If such plan the above were adopted, am salts
fed that there dealers who would be willing to
risk less than fair ton on their cart for delivery.
Should the Mayor not be able to have such inspectors
paid ont OF the public funds am satisfied that there
Of New York who wonld be willing to subscribe four
times the amount necessary to pay such inspectors.
u
year to have the above other plan in operation
TO protect the honest dealers in their business well
10 protect the public from fraud which can easily
prove to exist to u considerable extent.
The present Inspector Of coal going to the public
schools told me last week that you in when
you reported that this year he could get only about
thirty five tons in of the bins which was said to
hold seventy tons last year. He says in reality he could
put about fotry6ve tons in it this year, but
showing fraud Of about twenty-five tons in seventy.
also prove that hotel keeper bought cargo Of
coal this year from coal dealer and that the hotel
keeper took the cargo at the weight represented by the
bill OF lading and that the dealer hired the carts
it to the hotel and thai instead Of delivering the whole
of the coal 10 the hotel the dealer had twenty
thirty loads Of it dumped perhaps through mistake) in
his own yard when the stopping for dinner,
and at evening, and yet the hotel keeper charged
with the whole cargo.
The yards which give short weight very well
known the and TO most Of the dealers in the
city, and could easily be pointed out to the Mayor
sny one in authority who would wish to the
fraud that exists and enough Of evidence easily
he produced to show that inspectors other
ton very necessary not only now when coal is so
very high in price, but at all times for there some
who do not know anything about the quality OF the coal
hey are buying selling, in fact anyth about the
business and think the only way profit is made is by
cheating. NEW YORK COAL DEALER.