The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-03
FEW ITEMS IN HIGH
COST Of LIVING
As Discussed by Prof. Andrew
H. Patterson
RECOGNIZED SCIENTIST
Short Weights and Measures, in
Sale of Goods Is Big
gest Item

soods TO the consumer is one of the
biggest items of expense in the popu-
'aily termed budget Of the high cost
OF living" in North Carolina. today, is
Inc very pronounced opinion of Prof.
Andrew H. Patterson, head Of the de-
partment of physics in the University
OF North Carolina, and recognized
SclentlSt or h South. The scientist
arrived at this interesting solution of
the question tina vitality concerns each
and every Wage-earner in the State
after much research and study by wav !
OF contrasting the existing conditions
IN this and other states Of the Union
relative to state inspection laws Of
weights and measures and the stand
ardlzation Of all local weights and
measures.
Blame for Conditions.
In attaching blame for the prevail
Ing conditions Of short weights and
measures in this State, Professor Pat
tersOn made it Enthusiastically clear that
the evils OF the system in most cases
are u~nintentiOnal on the part Of mer-
chants and is far from being fraudu-
lent acts imposed upon the thousands
of wage-earners that are no less the
suffering victims Of the unstandard-
lied and uninspected system of
weights and measures. At the door
OF the manufacturer of the weights,
measures and scales is, for the most
part, attributable the source Of C
undesirable systems Of weights
which oftentimes taxes the consumer
an additional sum of. from ten to
twenty per cent increase on the cost Of
food products purchased. This manu-
~facturer of weights and measures is
sometimes altogether INSCRIPTIONS
and in his overweening desire to make
popular sales OF his scales will tag
on a device by which the fraudulent
merchant can ply his bargains of light
weights without detection on the part
Of the buyer. This feature of the
game waged by the INSCRIPTIONS mer-
chant drives the otherwise honest
dealer, by h extgencleS of fierce COM
petition, to make h matter Of full
measure and weight a thing to be de-
sired rather than a thing Of constant
practice. Many other ample proofs
a be produced to justify the state
ment made by h physics professor
of h University that short weights
and measures figure immensely in the
cost Of living to the consumer in North
Carolina. What buyer cannot recall a
homely illustration each day whereby
he feels that he has not received his
just dues in some small purchase OF
large? 1t may be hat the honest
farmer purchases from the country
crossroads store a spool of thread
that is woefully lacking in the number
of yards that it has been advertised al
containing, or perhaps some city
grocer is the retailer Of bacon thai
what it may lack in the pounds O.
actual meat is supplied amply by fou1
or five additional and unnecessar!
wra ppers. All the aforementioned
items appear as minutely small, bu
purchases of years supply at suci
short weights will total up to mar
velous sums that rightfully belong t
the of the products.
Evils OF Measures.
The evils of the prevailing system
Of weights and measures ave beer
enumerated and the lack Of Thorough
Standardization and of a thorough
going inspection law are the apparent
~ outstanding features Of the veal
system. Now, what are some Of tn
plausible remedies hat Professo
Patterson offers? OF course, ever
houSekeeper is more or less aWar
Of the fact that it is her sad portlol
TO receive short weights in return 70
full Measure in dollars and cents. Bu
how, IAN the feeble complaints OF tn
housewife better conditions withou
an organized effort? It is next to tn
impossible. Therefore, the first ste
70 be taken is a .fOregone conclusion
that Of a%rousing pubic sentiment
the necessity Of taking a radical de
parture along these lines. The inltla
step seems to be in the direction c
trading only with outspoken, homes
and reliable merchants. Boycott tn
merchant that evidences the least sus
picion of shady dealings with his Gus
toners. However. the large step thu
must be taken if better conditions ar
to come is to induce the next Leg1s
iature of North Carolina to make
stubborn effort to place on the statut
books such laws as it may deem e1
pedient to remedy these evils of sho1
weights and Create sue
necessary State inspectors that will (
regularly on the lookout to stamp OF
any fraud that may be perpetrated o
The people, and see to it periodical
that standard weights and measurt
are in force at every place where me