Evening star., 1869-07-09
A SUFfRRER From WANT OF WATER.

EDITOR OF THB STAR Il have for several
months interested yseif IN the efforts of our
city ssaler Of weights and measures 10 correct
the extensive frauds practleed by dealers here
in retailing family supplies, and have ben
surprised from my personal observations al
the extent Of the practice-particularly in the
public markets-of giving short weight and
measure. i have been in the habit for soma
time, for the purpose OF actually testing this
matter. OF weighing my purchases in market:
and II were TO make such declarations my
facts warrant you would perhaps regard them
as too sweeping In their character-as Invoiv-
ing the regulations of too many respectable
traders-to MAKE such publication pruoent. /
assure you and the public that we hOu sakeap-
ers, rich and poor, are being blsd 10 the bone
by this sor' of fraud every day. thas become
one OF the chief sources of profit in the retail
trade OF cur public markets, ana with the
dealers in fresh and cured meats particularly.
To cite you one instance. which was my last
purchase, and made light IN amount in order
70 see how big fraud could come out OF so
small a trade. i bought OF respectable
butcher few mutton chops; he put them on
his scales and said, "A pound aud tnree.quar-
they poundr' He said, IT Twenty.fiv We cents"
l paid for them, and passing along to the stand
OF a candy dealer who had a common grocer's
scales, asked him to weigh the chops. They
weighed one pound and one ounce. took
took them back to the fraudulent vender, and
charged bIm with the fraud, and his whole
manner convinced me that ne is practising
the same sort OF piracy on his customers daily.
i know that these instances which mention
are not exceptional, or should not spend my
lime in asking you to come to the rescue of the
;eople who are so reasonably complaining
that their money goes SO litrle ways In mar ket
I'D supplying their necessities.
Nothing but q fair warning TO housekeepers
and constant vigilance will break up this
practice. Let every citizen re-weigh his pur.
chases in market, and charge home the
knavery whenever they detect II. The gena.
raj use OF what is called the spring balan e.
by dealers in market, enables them TO practice
these wrongs more successfully Than with the
old-fashOned counter scales These balances
are easily tampeTed with, and are suspended
generally where the customer cannot see what
they Indicate. The general practice among
butchers Is 10 cut you off piece OF meat, sucb
as you would select, throw IL into one OF these
scales With Its dial turned from you, or in a
situation where you can't well see wha. the
weight Is, and instead of telling you the
weight, give You the price he demands for the
The present Sealer o; Weights. MIR. GetcheI.
entered upon the duties of his Office with de-
termination 10 correct these abuses, and he has
found the use OF this spring balance one OF
greatest obstacles to reform, as well as the in-
strument OF great proportion of the frauds in
weight all over the city. For his faithfnlness
and resolution in pursuing this matter, he has
already incurred the uispleasure OF a numbar
OF traders and merchants, who are asking for
his removal: but those who placed him IN his
present position, aud bade him fearlessiy do
his duty, Will sustain HIM in H.
Joint committee OF the two Boards OF der
men and Common Council have reported
against the use OF this spring balance, and the
lower Board have passed resolution re-
moving II from all places of trate- We now
call upon the upper Board to do the same, and
let every citizen use his influence 10 root out
this growing aud outrageous abuse. L.t so ne
OF our honest butchers mount the old fashioned
counter scales upon their ben ches, if they want
the trade OF the men and women who are gett-
ing their eyes open 10 these things.
MORE ANON.
The CARD OF IL Polkinhorn Il Co., TO which
we call the attention of our readers, sets forth
that the ale OF the effects of the NotioRg! IL.
teHge icer W Ii not affect their job printing Of.
flee, lin the Intelligencer Building,) which is
in full blast, and will continue its career O!
usefulness.
TBR DOG WAR.-The police this morning
report ~ deaths in the canine popu lation by