Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-26
STATE HOUSE.
The Weights and Measures as
They Are Received.
Treasurer Simpson Might Well Start
a Repair Shop for Them.
General Richards Believes IN, Augusta Cadets
Should Be Continued.


urer and his force are operating a re
pair shop down here at Augusta. 1t
certainly looks that way from the diff
fcrcnt weights and measures that are
sent in to be tested. Other men have
an idea that it is the place where old
scales are cleaned and placed in con-
dition 50 that they can be operated.
The law that was passed at the last
session of the Legislature made it i'm
| peratiVe that the States scales should
| be in perfect accordance with the
standards of the United States Soon
after this Treasurer Simpson sent them
to the United States treasury depart
ment where the tests are made with
Ithe standards. The time occu-
pied by this department in making the
| tests was long enough so that it must
be that they are accurate. for it was
nine months from the time the State s
| property was sent that it was received
| back at the State House. Now every
thing is all ready for the testing of the
weights and measures sent in by the
sealers Of weights ana measures of the
towns.
The States implements were all cor
y
and il, VS. thought they We're perfect
al the start. However, Treasurer
Simpson thought it best to be sure, for
he had no record Of any sort to show
they had ever been tested.
The Journal representative took a
trip down into the board of pharmacy
room where these weights and meas
ures. as well as the intricate scales and
balances Of the treasury department
are kept and looked over the lot, Satur-
day morning.
Look at this set of measures We
have Just received from a certain town
in the State" remarked Mr.. Simpson.
picking up half bushel measure made
Of wood. How is that to be tested in
its present condition."
Sure enough how was it to be test
ed? 1t would not hold the coarsest
corn, to say nothing of the flax seed
that is used in making the tests The
outer rim had come so far away from
the bottom that a crack of fully half
an inch in width was left through
which the material could run. Every
measure in the set was in the same
condition. 1t is said the towns dis
ticials when they have any old ones.
and this is one Of the reasons why the
old ones come in. They cannot be test
ed at this place, however, for Mr.
simpson and his clerks cannot stop to
do the work of carpenter or cooper In
this sort of measures.
Then in the liquor measures are
those whose bottoms are made Of thin
in. ont
So that when full the bulging bottom
cheats the trader when he is selling.
Il was in trade once, myself Sald
Mr.. simpson. and discovered
measure | had been using for years
that was over tho standard. | hdd patn
selling by that and cheating myself out
of a pint or more of produce with every
half bushcl. 1t is the same all through
the country. The people whose meas
IIrps have been in use for years 90 not
know whether they are right or not
and the scales Of one sort and another
may not be right"
In cnmparis0u with the measures
from the towns are seen IN" ~ ~
measures of the State mad" 81 that
no bulging Of bottoms is possible anu
when once in condition they always
remain 50 until the standard changes
Old balances covered with the rust
and dust of time are sent in TO D. tired
It is not the balances themselves tlat
should be sent. but it is the weights
that are used with them. The balances
are things which any man can ten
whether they are balancing even or
not as they hang. but it is the weights
usod that need T. be tested. some 81
hc hanging weights are sent in with
thc rings broken and in conditions 81
that nature Taken all in all the ~
IF weights and measures sent to tn
STATE treasurer for testing are not 81
th4 sort to make on" CnthuSe over
their condition. though they may y
nearly. il not quite, right when n
comes To their accuracy in com
harrison with the standards Of the
state.
Tbi; law i something that in other
states is ana has for years been r.
cai,ing much attention. Massachusetts
bain.. especially strict in its obserVancc.
Possibly the scales that nave p.eI'
nnar9tad in the country for years may
in the end cheat the dealer rs much u
IN. uatron if th,. same balances anu
sea are USED III lut Put 'liti7' ''t''
sale Int As a rule they are not. IN"
law was passed for the purpose 81 en-
forcing a uniform system OF WrlShtS
and measures and it Will probably D.
out fully as the years go along
II would like very much to see tht
Augusta Cadets organization contih-
nod said Adjutant General Rlchard@'
who has ever showed the greatest IN
forest in the company. 1T is DONG
an infinite amount of good to the boys
and T am sorry to hear that 1t Is 70 PC
dishanded. | wonder if some plan
could not be devised to have them
continue the organization.
The general has certainly done az
,,rcb as anv one man outside of Mr.
White TO make the company success
u II was his announcement that az
ia start made them get under way
When the company was in the embryo
statn he loaned them canteens, havef-
sacks CAPS. tents and all sorts of artl-
lbs and even during the past year
some of the property under MS charge
vac used in the camping.
He has always been one OF the al
,.iears of the company and on every
aoo,sion has been present at their per
forn,ances with a word of praise ana