The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-10
Weights.

A great deal has been said Of late about
weights. Light weights, heavy weights,
false weights, down weight, honest
weights and mistakes In weighing. 1t is
not our disposition or intention to injure
any one by what we may say in this arti-
Gle. We simply wish to call the attention
Of the farming community and dealers
generally to the question of weights as we
think the interest OF our town and COM
munity seems to demand, and particular
~ the interest Of our grain sand stock
dealers.
There are rogues amongst all classes Of
community as we verify believe but
because man is dealing in articles
OF produce and is the proprietor or
has control Of set of scales for weighing
purposes. it does not follow that he is a
rascal. We know of our own personal
knowledge that injustice has been done to
our grain dealers because of the bad
weights Of the scales in front of Doolittles
grocery store in Toledo. Parties having
produce to sell have weighed on those
scales, and afterwards On weighing at the
scales of the dealer and person to whom
they sold, have discovered marked
difference in the WEIGHTS between the two
scales. These occurrences becoming
quite frequent and Mr.. j. L. Bracken who
is engaged in the produce business in our
town being the principal sufferer, suggest
cd the matter to the general agent Of the
Fairbanks Scale Company few days
since, whereupon said agent made per-
sonal examination Of the Doolittle scales,
which resulted in his making the follow
ing certificate which is in our possession:
TOLEDO, Iowa, Nov. Goth, IA.
This is to certify that have this day
examined the scales in front Of Doolittle's
grocery store, and that they are out Of
order, it taking 40 to so lbs to turn them.
A. r. SNYDER,
Agent Fairbanks Scales.
Thus it can readily be seen wherein
wrong can be done to dealer by weigh
ing on such scales and then holding the
dealer accountable for the defect and
wrongful weight. We have no doubt but
what the Doolittle scales could be made
good if repaired, and properly balanced
IN regard to the honesty and integrity
Of our produce dealers Mr.. Bracken, Mr..
Alexander and their employees, we would
say that there is no question in our mind
but what they are oil honest, fair dealing
men, and we do not believe that any Of
them would wilfully defraud their Gus
toners. 1t is an easy matter for lumber
wagon to lose or gain 40 or SONS on a
muddy day in driving from the depot up
town or in driving from the up town
scales to depot. Again it is not unfre-
quently the case that the party who
weighs his load at both scales is over anx-
ious to find some mistake and aids the
matter as he desires by dropping side
boards, q sack Of feed. spring seats or
perhaps himself from the load when
weighed at one place while at the other he
will be careful to have the whole thing
weighed. 1t is true that once in while
parties who otficiate as weighmastcrs may
and do make mistakes. There are none
of us infallible, and in our judgment all
are liable to make mistakes, scale men
not excepted. There should be the great
est care possible on the part of both buy
er and seller, weigher and weighed, not
to misrepresent matters, and above all,
scales that are owned or controlled by
any person who holds himself in readi-
ness TO do weighing upon them should al
ways be kept in good repair and then with
honest dealing there would be no wrang-
ling about weights.