Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-04-24
AN ASSIzE OF BREAD.
'aobi!e's Regulation Of Bakeries Early
IN the Last Century.

IN the LAST Century.
In the latter half OF the seventeenth
and the early part OF the eighteenth
centuries the regulation OF the price OF
bread by public authority was famil-
lar principle In the English colonies OF
America. In New Haven. for instance.
the weight OF the penny loaf was regu-
lated by law about 1900. and in 1896
the Massachusetts general court also
provided regular assize. fixing the
weight OF the Loaf according 10 the
Ing the first quarter OF the eighteenth
century the selectmen of Boston like
wise performed this duty.
IL is Interesting. however. to note a
survival or perhaps Il revival OF this
principle as late as the nineteenth CEN
fury I'm the town of Mobile. a place
whose economic history is marked by
many peculiar features. After fifty
two years OF French. seventeen years
of English ana thirty-three years OF
Spanish rule Mobile came under the
control OF the United States govern
mcnt In April 1913. and was included
in the Mississippi territory. On Jan.
20. 1914. 10y an act of the territorial
legislature the town received Il charter
OF Incorporation. and at two meetings
OF the inhabitants. on March IL and
IL. the municipal government was or
ganizcd and the charter publicly read
in English and I'm French. The popula-
ton at this time was conn osed of
French. English and Irish ementS.
On April following. three weeks after
the organization OF the municipal gov
eminent. tariff for bakers" or as
size OF bread. was drawn up by the
commissioners (the governing body OF
the town and proclaimed In English
ana in French. This fixed the weight
Of the loaf for the ensuing month in
accordance with the price of -four. In
stead of changing the price OF bread
it was more convenient to make the
loaveS lighter or heavier rs the price Of
flour rose o. fell. On May ., 1914, the
weight OF the bit loaf 0he bit being Il
coin worth 12ls centsl was fixed at
twenty-cight ounces. and the weight OF
the half bit loaf was fixed at fourteen
ounces
On July 5. 1915. Mr.. Martin, the bak-
CIR. appeared before the board and paid
the sum OF SO. 4 fine inflicted on him
for having his bread too light. one-half
OF which sum was paid to the police
officer. ON Jan. -. 1917. a regular
scale OF weights for the bit loaf was
adopted
Beginning May .. 1917. the aSsize OF
bread was proclaimed weeAly instead
of monthly. as before. ANA this system
was continued fec I little more than
two year. '.hc records 60 not show
that the as re .a pgoc'aimed after
| 1919. but Tie tas,l continued 10 exer-
else control oyc4 tie business OF hab-
/ ing. Ever fai.cr WAS required 10
/ procure a Nccasc anl to register his
/ trademark. whiCG '-as stamped on his
/ loaves. y pubic iakchouSe was also
established and Senius 90 have been
managed In ;he SANE way that munich
/ palities control iuhlic markets, the
| bakers rcntia, tlc stalls from the town
! and being subject - inspection. AS
4 late as 1896 in the annual statement OF
/ the city clerk th' following entry oc-
ours In the Sta cement OF receipts dur
ing the year: "Sales OF condemned
bread. $iST"-Quarteriy Journal OF
| Economics