The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-10
Tares---Frauds in Cincinnati.

Western cities. We have often heard COM {
plants on this subject, and are glad to notice
that the imposition is attracting the scrutinizing
attention of the Cincinnati Price Current.
Tare as understood among commercial men
in all civilized nations, is the actual weight of
the packages in which merchandise is packed
which is sold by weight, and the understand
ing'with the merchant in all tie leading ma
tons, is that the actual weight of the package,
in which the goods is contained shall be de-
Quoted from the gross weight of the parcel
when the goods are sold, in order TO find the
actual or net weight of the merchandise con-
tained in it. In ascertaining the weight of
packages in many cases, owing to peculiar cir
cumstances, it has been found necessary in
this country to establish custom or rule
for ascertaining the tare, such as in rice, sugar
and many other articles Of commerce. by which
the weight of the box or cask could be ascer
tanned without actually weighing it.
Violations of this rule should be matter OF
interest to every commercial community, and
it is on the subject of these violations the Price
Current speaks. The editor says "that the.
custom or rule has been so much abused by
dishonest Dealers in certain cities, that it
has become disgrace to our (their) business
character, and an imposition upon the fair
dealer, as well as the purchasers who are vic
tirnizcd BY it, and the tg1ole matter calls loudly
for the action Of our Legislatures"
The editor particularizes some cases of fla
grant imposition which are practiced under it
And first, of Sugar. This article, it states
according to the rule in Louisiana and in our
Western markets, tared ten per cent. on the
gross weight of the hogshead; that is, suppos-
ing the gross weight of the hogshead is 1900
lbs, ten percent. of this is $50 lbs, and this is
deducted for the package, leaving the net
weight l170 lbs; and if the slaves and heading
were made in the ordinary manner that is not
thicker or of greater strength than what is
necessary, the rule would be correct one, and
the purchaser of Louisiana sugar would not
have to pay from four to five cents per pound
for twenty or thirty, and in some cases, forty
lbs of cypress wood; but the facts are, that the
one-fourth of the hogsheads are made in such
manner, that twelve or fifteen per cent
would not cover the tare; and made so by de-
sign---for the exprese purpose Of cheating the
dealer. 1t is no uncommon case to find the
heading two or three inches thick, and the
slaves, in some places, one to one and half
inches thick. A few years ago some of our
dealers undertook to increase the tare to twelve
per cent though they get but ten per cent in
II - Al.
of action necessary, and the effort failed. This
is the tare given in the Eastern markets; and
on most India sugars is the actual tare, and
hence. it is that more satisfaction is given to
the purchasers of sugar in the Eastern markets
than with u.s."
Again, says the Price Current
at is customary to have barrels in which
sugar is packed, eighteen pounds, though it is
well known and understood, by both buyer
and seller, that the average weight of them is
twenty pounds. Here the dishonest dealer
has most favorable opportunity to cheat
his customers by obtaining heavy barrels,
which would weigh twenty-five to thirty lbs,
and by deducting the understood tare (twenty-
two lbs) from the actual the loss to the pur-
chaser would be three to eight pounds, which
at six cents per pound, the ordinary price of
sugar, would be rather dear Tor lumber
There are dealers in this city, Cincinnati
as well as in all other large cities, who are
ready to embrace every opportunity to shave
their customers by every means; and if case
they are detected, there is no danger, as they
are not amenable to any law standing as they
do, behind the custom of the trade 1T makes
no difference sir; it is the CUSTOM is the ready
reply when called to account. We have known
contracts to be made with coopers to manu-
facturc barrels which by special stipulation,
were not to weigh less than twenty-eight lbs
each, by dealers who once done business in
this city, and probably the same game is car
ried on now by men of a similar character
Inpacking Lard, also they cheat in Cincin-
natl. Says the Price Current, sit is well known
that the customary tare on a barrel of lard, is
eighteen per cent. on the gross weight. The
gross weight ofan ordinary sized barrel oflard
is about 276 lbs; Is per cent. of this is As lbs,
which is what the barrel containing the lard
should weigh; but it is quite a common cccur-
renee to find barrels which weigh Sc lbs, and
as high as GO lbs, in which cases the buyer
would have to pay eight or ten cents per pound
for white oak instead of lard-and thus the
thief is enabled to steal in legal ray, owing
to this hateful CUSTOM
Nor have the Cincinnati naillers, it seems
been proof against temptation. The PRICE
Current states that, 'since flour has ruled a
such high prices, there has been and is now
an immense amount Of slcindling done By DIS