The times., 1901-05-22
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
The Commissioners Investigate the
Practices of Wood Inspectors.
Reports Indicate thc Methods Used
and the Reasons Which Prompt
Them - Complaint of Open Cars
open Holes in the Sidewalks.

The District Commissioners recently,
through their Secretary, Mr. William
Tindal, invited report from the inspec-
tors and measurers of wood as to the
methods pursued by them in the perform
ance of their duties. They were asked
to make special reference in their re-
port TO the practice Of deducting one cord
in every forty-eight cords measured. w.
A. o O'Meara, of the Potomac District, was
the first to respond as follows:
In answer TO your communication Of
the 18th instant / beg leave to make the
following reply: l do not make a deduc-
tion In all wood measured by me of one
cord in every forty-eight. We have a
rule in connection with the measurement
OF wood, which is, one square inch Of
wood equals one cord in every forty
eight. Now should a load of wood be
landed in my district, averaging in length
three feet and eleven inches, that would
make 1t one inch short, consequently it
would lose one cord in every forty-eight
Should it average three feet ten inches
in length that would be two inches short
Then the deduction would be one cord
in every twenty-four and so on down, or
in other words. if a load Of wood should
be landed which averaged only three feet.
short Then this load of wood would be
docked one cord in every four
In reference TO the wood being landed,
the law says that ali wood brought into
the District for sale shall be corded
under the directions of the inspector IL
shall be well stored and packed, the
straight wood 10 be placed in the lower
part of the pile, and the crooked wood
Ia the upper part Of the pile and the
measurer shah then make due allowances
for the space which the crooked wood
creates. In connection with this matter
/ wish TO say. l am unable IN the per
fOrmance Of my duty 10 keep the straight
and crooked wood separate on account Of
the limited space which ! have on the
Wharves In my district Therefore the
wood is corded just as II comes on the
boat Now ii a load Of wood should De
landed in my district full length. straight.
and properly corded. then 1 would give
a bill for the amount Of wood landed. bat
should a load Of WOOD be landed contain
ing crooked wood, or should the captain
and he men employed By him TO cord
the wood persist in cording the wood so
as to create space, then ! in my Judg-
nent determine the amount Of space II
makes and dock the wood accordingly,
again applying the rule OF one square
inch equaling the loss Of one cord in
every forty-eight-
eleven years experience In this office, !
have ALWAYS conformed 70 this rule OF
-7s.5f-GigE TglHuF. ana nave DGEn GDBe at all
times to satisfy the owners OF wood, the
captains Of vessels who bring the wood,
auo the dealers Of Washington who buy
g. O. my measurements are fair and
just"
district, has also replied. saying: Re
ferring to the communication Of DR. Tin
dali OF the 18th inst, in which il is re-
ouested that I advise you what authority
there is for the practice Of deducting one
cord from every fOrty-eight cords meas
ured, and that ] submit recommenda-
tions IN reference TO the matter beg TO
may be found under the heading Meas
urers Of Wood and Coal paragraph {,
page rs, 'Webb's Digest. which pro-
vides that the said wood corders are
hereby directed to make the proper al
lowance for any loss which may be sus-
tained in the measure Of the crooked
wood.
ut has been estimated that in the
measurement Of wood, as it ordinarily
runs. this loss amounts TO one cord in
every fOrty-eight cords measured, allow
ing for crooked, rough. and knotty wood
Where tho wood corded is straight and
clean "A much less deduction is made Just
enough 10 cover any loss sustained
This rule has been observed by the
lneasurers of wood IN the District of Co
lumbia for a number Of years past
1T Is sometimes very hard TO get the
men enpioyed 10 cerd me WOOD 10 do 50
properly, and we, therefore, are expected /
20 use the best judgment IN making any
allowance in order 10 be fair to the seller
OF the wood. the captain OF the convey
ance. and the buyer
'arhe rule observed in reference 10 this I
matter Of deduction for loss sustained ia
coroing wood has worked satisfactorily
20 all parties interested in the past and /
see no reason why IL should not continue
70 do so IN the future"
a p. Yard, Of 2233 Q Street northwest,
hes addressed a communication 10 the
Commissioners in which he makes com
plant OF the management Of the George