Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-07-22
Averaging Around Twenty Bushels the Farmer Refuses Get Excited Ov
The Inspection of Wagon Scales.

The Inspection Of Wagon Scales.
During a recent trip through
several towns of the state, Prof.
NJ. D. Rice of the University of
Kansas, Deputy Sealer of Weights
and Measures, and Mr.. j. B. Klein
hans, State Food and Drug In
SpectOr, investigated the cOndi-
ton of wagon and platform scales
used for weighing hay, grain and
cattle. There has been heretofore
practically no inspection of such
scales in Kansas. Of the 45
scales tested on this trip 15 were
found to be decidedly false, weigh
ing wrong by amounts varying
from 20 to So pounds per ton.
In making these tests, forty 90
pound test weights were used, in
all 1000 pounds of certified
weights. In each town a wagon
is secured and wagon and weights
are driven onto scale and weigh
ed. The weights are next remOv-
I'd and the wagon alone is weigh
ed; the difference should be 20OO
pounds. The wagon is then re-
moved and 1000 pounds of test
weights are weighed, on the cenr
ter Of the platform and on each
corner; the result should be 1000
pounds in each case. Other
amounts o ftest weights are used
and weighings made by the differ
ant POises and weights of the
scale so as to test each cOmbina-
tiOn of pOiSes and weights and
ea@l: beam.
If the above weighingS are all
correct within 10 pounds for each
1000 pounds weighed, the scale is
passed. and if the owner wishes,
officially sealed as correct. If
some or all of the above weighing
are incorrect by more than 10
pounds per 1000 pounds weigh
ed, the scale is condemned and a
scale can not now be lawfully use
again until it has been repaired
and adjusted by someone, and af-
terward tested and found correct
by some authorized inspector or
Sealer, who can then remove the
cOndemning tag.
The result of this trip showed
two things: first, that an inSpec-
tiOn of such scales is very much
needed; and second, that such in
spectiOnwould undoubtedly be we
coined by both the public and the
dealers. Without exception, ev-
cry scale owner met on this trip
was glad to learn officially, how
his scales were weighing. He re-
allied and the public generally re-
alize, that a false weighing means
the same as incorrect change from
the mOney-drawer.
This work of inspection is being
continued by Mr.. Klienhans, State
Food and Drug Inspector who will
visit many towns in central and
northern Kansas during the next
four weeks. As was done on the
above trip, the work of inspection
will be carried on as far as pos
sible in cooperation with the To-
cal authorities. The county clerk
! is by law the inspector and seal
er in his county, except in cities
having a municipal inspector. The
| law provides that the county clerk
shall procure, when ordered to do
so by the county commissioners,
the necessary equipment to do
this work. For testing wagon
scales, the necessary equipment
consists of twenty (preferably 4O)
O5-pOund cast iron test weights
costing about two dollars each, a
few tools for making minor ad-
justments, suitable sealing and co
demning tags and record books.
II would be worth far more than
It costs. both to the public and to
the dealers to have this equip
ment in each county. Then when
a scale had been repaired or new
ly set, it could be promptly tested
and sealed if found correct. All
complaints in regard to any scale
IN common use could be promptly
and authOritively settled by the
county clerk to the satisfaction Of
l both consumer and dealer.
Ora Fair entertained a few