Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-22
WOOD MEASURERS' METHODS.
Report Made to CommfssfOners NV
Two InspectOrs

AsSpoTt hduc ~ commissioners by
Two Inspectors.
The District Commissioners recently call
ed upon w. A. OMeara, the inspector and
measurer of wood for the Potomac district.
for statement in regard to the methods
in vogue in his office. Mr. O'Meara has
made response, a letter being received from
him in which he says:
Il do not make deduction 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 eleven inches that
would make it 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 twentyfour and so on down or in
other words if a load of wood should be
landed which averaged only three feet. that
would be one-fourth twelve inches
short. Then this load of wood would be
locked one cord in every four.
In reference TO the wood being landed
the law says that all wood brought into
the District for sale shall be corded under
the directions of the inspector 1t shall be
well stored and packed, the straight wood
to be placed in the lower part of the nile
and the crooked wood in the upper part of
the pile, and the meaSurer shall then make
due allowance for the space which the
crooked wood creates. In connection with
this matter l wish to say l am unable in
the performance of my duty to keep the
straight and crooked wood separate on &C
count of the limited space which have on
the wharves in my district. Therefore the
wood is corded just as it comes off the
boat. Now, if load Of wood should be
10 6n6 In n tCty lot f,,ll
and properly corded then 1 would give a
bill for the amount of wood landed. but
should a load of wood be landed contain
Ing crooked wood. or should the captain
and the men employed by him to cord the
wood persist in cording the wood SO as to
create space, then 1 in my judgment de-
termine the amount of space 1t makes and
dock the wood accordingly, again applying
the rule of one square inch equalng the
loss of one cord in every forty-eight.
In conclusion wish to say, in my eleven
years experience In this office 1 have al
ways conformed to this rule of measure
satisfy the owners of wood the captains Of
vessels who bring the wood and the deal
ers of Washington who buy it that my
measurements are fair and just
VIM. o. Orndorff the inspector and meas
urer Of wood Of the Rock Creek district.
has also replied to the Commissioners
query, saying:
Referring to the communication Of DIR.
L
requested that advise you what authority
there is for the practice of deducting one
cord from every forty-eight cords meas
ured, and that 1 submit recommendations
in reference to the matter, 1 beg to say
that the authority for this practice may be
found, under the heading 'Measurers Of
wood and COAL paragraph 4, page 276,
'Webb's Digest which provides that the
said wood corders are hereby directed to
make the proper allowance for any loss
which may be sustained in the measure of
the crooked wood
1T has been estimated that in the meas
urement Of wood, as it ordinarily runs, this
loss amounts to one cord in every forty
eight cords measured, allowing for crook
ed, rough and knotty wood. Where the
wood corded is straight and clean a much
less deduction is made, just enough to
cover any loss Sustained.
This rule has been observed by the
measurers of wood in the District Of CO.
lumbia for a number Of years past.
1T is sometimes very hard to get the
men employed to cord the wood to do so
properly, and we. therefore. are expected
to use the best judgment in making any
allowance In order to be fair to the seller