The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1886-07-23
DISHONEST DEALERS.
HOW uhsosPEcTlAG HOUSEWIVES
ARE OFTEN sWlaDLEo

F1OT URSOoPEG tfSa HOUSEWIVES
ARE OFTEN saNlaDLEp.
Short Measures and Their Ingenioas een-
ssrueaien-Ealse and Hinged 1sossoias =
Trieks That Almost Dsfy Dstestien-
The Schemes OF Fruit Peddiers.
The season 10 approaching VIXEN ecpnen-
ical housewives will begin 20 ny III fruit
fer preserving purposes Pfobauay IL has
occurred to many how tho sddIerf could
pile the measure 50 high and get Waen he
had gone the purchase would naia ouI only
three quarts to the gallon af al trades
and pursuits these itinerants dsaas az's the
superiors as far as tricks a-aTe csreerned
Such swindIiHg IS, of course, in pessy
way, but when the extent OF thar safes Is
taken into account, tine arnouss or theif iA-
gotten profits is ASTONISHING Ihls Is es-
peeially the case when tbfe is q ascarcity In
the market and price, have considerably
advanced. It is the4reqaant boast OF these
dealers that they lay at wholesale, and YET
can afford to ssVat the same rate. This Is
true. OF eoure, their profits must come in
somewhere
To many hoodwinked housewife no
doubt thisseeming paradox has been an
unsolyed puzzle. To the initiated or those
behind the curtain nothing could be sinp-
ler. The measure must be short, certainly !;
hut hov can the peddier so arrange it as
TO deceive the law officers and defy the PEN
etraang eye OF the higgling woman, who is
svsr trying to get full value for her money!
he succeeds however, and it is compare
lively rare, considering the amonnt of such
business done, that he il caught at the
trick.
ALL SORTS OF FALSE MEASURES.
The "city sealer" has at his house what he
terms his "armory." Here are stored the
numerous false measures he has con6scated
during his term of office. They are of all
sizes and shapes, and 1t is interesting to see
how ingenious dishonesty makes some
people.
In the inspections rule Is used which
tests to an infnitesimal amount the contents
OF a measure. The sealer and his assistants
are continually on the watch. The dealer
never knows when his store will be entered
or his wagon stopped. The law provides a
fee for ali inspections, and, of course, the
more alert aad energetic the officer the
greater his compensation.
TIE false bottom is a familiar trick, and
fashion, however, and is as successful as
when first sprung upon an honest and un-
suspecting world There are many ways Of
thus "doctoring" measure Sometimes an
other bottom is soldered in after it has been
tested and sealed Then in other cases
piece of wood is placed in the bottom "a IL
to brace and render the measure more firm
and solid. The most ingenious plan, how
ever, is to cover the bottom with cement,
say an inch in depth. This hardens and
soon becomes the color of the sides. 1t La
only by the additional and unusual weight
that the deception can be discovered or
course outwardly the measure is perfectly
correct, and bears the official stamp Of lis
truth.
OTHER WAYS OF CHEATING.
Another way is to take the measure and
beat down an inch or SO the hoop or iron
Land that girds the top The portion re-
manning above is carefully cut away, and
10 is onty when tested by the rule that the
shortage is found. Probably the shrewdest
trick is the hinged bottom This is SO made
that the two portions will open inwardly
and close Immediately when the measure is
taken up. 1t is used principally in meas
uring apples and potatoes or such articles
The dealer first carefully places it upon an
apple Or potato, the bottom is forced in,
and, of course, considerable OF the space is
taken up.
Almost every one has noticed how bat
tered are most Of the measures used by
street peddlers 1t is naturally thought
that they have been accidentally knocked
out of shape while being tossed about. In
many cases, however, it is from deliberate
intention, for obviously the dealer is bene-
fitted by the mashing in
A favorite scheme, particularly in berry
time, is to crush quantity of the fruit on
the bottom. 1t adheres, of course, and the
purchaser falls short of the required
amount while the dealer, apparently has
acted in the fairest possible manner An
other way is frequently practiced when the
sides of the wagon are high The measure
is heapiag full, but when the contents are
poured out, care is taken that a portion
falls in the bed of the wagon. Such are
few of the schemes practiced by the dis
honest. Reputable dealers scorn to descend
to swindling tricks, and will not risk their
reputation to gain temporary prodt-Cin-
cinnati Enquirer.