The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-16
SHORT IN WEIGHT
Inspector Farnsworth Says
Coal Dealers Are Careless.
Has Started on a Campaign of
Investigation.
FOUND ONE VICTIM.
Nine Tons Were Just 1900
Pounds Short.
Rules by Which Good Weights
May Be Insured.

Coal is SO very high in price that it is
feared that some Topeka coal dealers
may be making mistakes IN then
weights.
CITY Food Inspector Farnsworth has
had a tin that weights may be shy on
some of the heavily laden coal wagons,
and he has started campaign OF m
vestigation. The scales of the coal deal
ers will be tested. and now and then
wagon load of coal will be interrupted
in its serene career from dealer TO con
sumner, and Obliged to travel across the
CITY scales to determine whether or not
the weight ticket in the possession or the
driver is drawn up in accordance with
standard weights and measures.
Wednesday three loads of coal des-
tined for the city schools in North To-
peka~were weighed on the city scaIes ~
North Topeka Each load was supposed
to consist of three tons of coal me
official city scales showed that there
was a deficit of 1900 pounds on the nine
tons.
So great was the discrepancy that the
coal dealer Insisted that something must
be wrong with the city scales To set
tie this point Street Commissioner
Griggs loaded up q set of standard =, p
weights and took them to North To-
ueka The scales were tested and IN
spected and found to be lin good condl-
ton, and exactly according to STANDARD.
It is thought that there may be otner
scales in use among the coal dealers
the standard weights.
The city ordinances are in such grand
confusion that no one was able to pro-
tiuce COPY of the ordinance regulating
fhe weighing CT coal but City Weigh
master Peck, who keeps posted on such
things says that there is an ordinance
which provides that whenever a con
SINNER of coal desires to have his coal
weighed on the city scales he can COM
pei the coal dealer to do so by tender
ing the usual fee. ten cents Otherwise
the coal dealer weighs on his own scales
| and issues his Individual weight tickets
| II the coal dealer weighs his coal on
/ a rai53fic scale Eept by private parties. he
| IS given a weight certificate on blank
issued by the city, for which the owner
! of the scale has to pay 5 cents rms
s cents is in. the nature of a license on
All the coal for the public buildings
/ Of Topeka, including schools, is suppos-
led to be weighed on the city scales
This is not regulated by city ordinance,
/ howevee, but by contract with the conf
/ pany supplying the coal
/ Food Inspector Farnsworth said to-
fday: Il have so far this year not tested
any coal scales, or weighed any wagons,
because have kaard no complaints
| Everything seemed to -sbe going along
all right But T expect to look into <he
question smnedsa tely I have not in
vestigafed the difficulty in North To
I peka over coal for the city schools
/ expect to Go 20 today
The whole duty of protecting the city
/ from false weights rests With the city foof
Inspector At one time there was or
| 9fnance providing that any person o.
/ persons who shall sell or offer to sell any
/ hay. coal or firesFoed before the SAM
1 shall have been weighed or measured b,
/ The city wcfghnaster or neasurers and {
lcertificate OF weight or uaeasurelnent givei
/ as provided in this ordinance. shall b
fined in any sum not exceeding ten dollar
and each load or parcel sold Or offered 70
arate offense."
This law was so very stringent that
produced terrific fight, and finally wa
repealed
Two years ago City Food Inspecto