Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-10-09
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1876.

n}attorm scales and the coming of sprlog bal
arces, the use of scales Tor weighing was far less
common than now, and oitentines entire accu-
racy was supposed to be secured, only when
the articles had beeo tried BY the standard
scales and weights 10 the office OF the clerk OF
the market, kuown, 10 comman phrase, as the
Scale House." With regard to weighing
articles ia which heavy weight was combined
With great bulk, still greater difficulty was ex-
perieuced. 1t was, for instance, Impossible to
be accurate 10 the measurement OF hay, &C.,
which was generally sold 10 bulk, Tor want of
knowledge Of its weight. Some time beture the
oueuins of the present century, Mr. Abraham
F.v made proposition that he would erect
large scae i. tue FOWL would give him the monop-
DIV of wcig1log hay for such a term of years as
would reimburse him for The expense OF erect
ing it. The city authorities accepted this
proposition, and i'll 1893 passed 40 ordinance
setting forth that great inconvehlenccs are eX
perlencei by the iohaoltants OF the towr Ut
Alexandria aud It's vclnlty, from the want OF
proper machine 70 ascertalo the true weight
of hay brou. ht 10 tuwn for safe, and AOraham
Faw having represented to the Mayor aud CoW-
mopalty that he will, at his own proper costs
and changes, erect such macnine, for the ex-
clusiv. privilege vi Gcls ching whatever bay shall
be brought to town for sale, certalo lumber
OF years, as a reasonable compensation Tor he ex-
peuse be should iu.ur and the trouble OF at
tending to the execution Ut the duties OF the
mactiue," aud granting toe monopoly. Uuuer
this coulrac; PERMISSION Was given Mr. taw TO
erect his m4chloe, and he Was granted the cx-
elusive right OF weighing hay 10 trwb tor
twenty one years, 90 condition that within ten
DAYS he shouts hllsu such machine, IN a
strong and substantial manner, upOo such
principles as 10 determine With CERTAIN degree
OF accuracy the weight of each article with u
proper house to secure it from the weather.
Mr. Faw erected his scale 10 October 1898, 90
the alley running into ST. Asaph street, near
Kiuy, and a short distance from the present
hav scales. These scales consisted of Verltabe
heavy scale beam near the top OF the house,
{now s!audiDg on the same site, halt burned J
with chalus &c, for helping the hay wagon 10
the alley below, while the weights were put
into scale opposite within the house halt the
beam was without and half within the house,
aud the old fashioned | II ID aud Sc ID weights
were used to lit and weigh the hay. Mr.. Faw
became thereupon the owner OF lease tor
twenty one years of the right to weigh hay in
Alexandria. He appointed the Weghers and
Inspectors of hay, who, ;akiog the oaths of
Office, became town officials. Mr.. Faw was al
lowed to charge for every wagon load weighed,
fifty cents, and for every cart load weighed
thirty-eight ceots. The monopoly Continued to
the end OF the term. As soon as platform scales
Ga NE into use, the scales were placed, as now,
lu front OF the house, where they still remain.
The remains of the olden scales we're destroyed
By fire short time ago. The hay scales have
suffered little from change. The site has been
changed bu, few feet since Its establishment.
The occupants of the Office have been few. Alb
raham Faw appointed John Shakes deputy
weigher OF bay 10 1898, and at the close OF MIR.
F.'s contract, Nh. Shakes was made city
weigher, holding that office until bis death 10
1860. MIR. f. NJ Weadon succeeded him,
and has, except during the var, held the office
since. The weigber aud inspector of bay now
receives for each load over 1000 pounds forty
ceots, and each load under 1000 pounds twen-
". FIVE cents. and pays forty per cent. of his
fees into the city treasury.