The Washington herald., 1907-03-10
AN AssIzE OF BREAD.
Mobiles Regulation OF Bakeries in
Early Part of Last Century.

=
FFom the Quarterly journal Of Economies.
In the latter half OF the seventeenth and
the early part Of the eighteenth centuries
the regulation OF the price or bread by
public authority was a familiar principle
In the English colonies Of America. In
New Haven, for instance. the weight Of
the penny loaf was regulated by law
about 1860. and in 1896 the Massachusetts,
General Court also provided a regular as
size, fixing the weight OF the loaf accord
ing to the price Of -four. At various
times during the first quarter OF the
eighteenth century the sJI.ctmen Of Bus
ton likewise performed this duty.
II Is interesting however. to note a
survival, or perhaps a revival, Of this
principle as late as the nineteenth cen
fury in the town Of Mobile. a place whose
economic history is marked by many pc
culiar features. After hfty-two years Of
French. seventeen years of English, and
thirty-three years Of Spanish rule Mobile
came under the control of the United
States government IN April 1918, and was
included in the Mississippi Territory. on
January 20, 1874 by an act Of the Terri
torial legislature. the town received
charter OF Incorporation, and at two meet
ings of the Inhabitants, OF March II
and IA, the municipal government was or
gained, and the charter publicly read I'm
English and I'm French. The population
at this time was composed Of French,
English, and Irish elements. An April 4,
following. three weeks after the organi-
zation Of the municipal government, a
tariff for bakers" or assize of bread.
was drawn up by the commissioners (the
governing body OF the town and pro-
claimed in English and In French. This
fixed the weight Of the loaf for the en-
suing month In accordance with the price
Of -four. Instead Of changing the price Of
bread. II was more convenient to make
the loaves lighter or heavier rs the price
OF -four rose OF fell On May 2 1874 the
weight Of the bit loaf (the bit being d
coin worth 70 II cents was fXed at TWEEN
ty-eight ounces. and the weight OF the
half bit loaf was fixed at fourteen ounces.
On July s. 1915. Mr.. Martin. the baker.
appeared before the board and paid the
sum Of Sl0-a fine inflicted on him fOT hav-
Ing his bread too Hght-one-half Of which
sum was paid TO the police officer. On
January "a, 1877, a regular scale Of weights
for the bit loaf was adopted
Beginning May g. 1917. the asslze of
/ bread was proclaimed weekly instead Of
monthly. as before. and this system was
continued for little more than two
years. The records do not show that the
assize was proclaimed after 1919 but the
town continued 10 exercise a control over
the business Of baking. Every baker was
required 10 procure license and 20 reg
lister his trademark. which was stamped
on his leaves A public bakehUuse WAS
also established, and seems % have been
managed IN the same way chat municipal
tiles control public markets. the bakers
renting the stalls from the town and be
ing subject TO inspection. As late as 1896
in the annual statement Of the city clerk
the following entry occurs in the state
ment 81 receipts during the year. Sales
! OF condemned bread. t1SI'