The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-05-31
WEIGHTS,
MEASURES
REPORT IN

| The following report Of the city sealer
OF weights and measures will give one
an idea of what has been done so far in
this department. Mr.. Gnatzig says:
"Up to this day | have visited 1856
places in the city and found 522 liquid
measures. Tested out 431 on my first
visit and found 204 that complied with
my standards, which | sealed. OF these
204 only were oil measures. | tested
and condemned 227. OF these 200 were
one gallon and one-half gallon oil
measures, and averaged eight ounces to
the gallon short. The balance Of ninety
one measures inspected and cOnfiscated
were in bad shape. Rusty, broken, dent
ed and dirty and so much against the
law to be confScated on sight.
Il also found one Of the old pals used
by the Standard Oil Company in the
city. up to a short time ago, which
should measure 5 gallons, one quart and
three ounces short. This pail with 9th
erS Of the same kind have been used
here for long time to fill dealers cans.
And Mr.. Burke tells me he sells 10000
gallons year in WatertOwn. One-half
pint in each gallon at the rate of 10000
per year ought to satisfy John D.. as
they were old measures and in use for
many years. 1t seems our merchants
never made any attempt to make the
right measure. The standard of 231
cubic inches to the liquid gallon was
established in 1886, so they have no ex-
cuse. Then the Pennsylvania and minor
companies together put in here another
10000 gallons, they tell me. The bulk
of which was sold to the public with
short measure-one-half pint to the gal
lon. The loss to the public of Water
town and vicinity on oil alone the past
ten years would capitalize and run
good bank.
Even the saloonkeeper, poor fellow,
got his. Some outside wholesaler sold
them whiskey in barrels and made pres
ents of fine copper one-half gallon mea-
sures to measure it 8ut with. [ find all
of these fine copper measures four ounce
short. and have good reason to believe
that the whiskey was short measured in
the barrel when sold.
II expect some trouble with the scales
as there are lot of them old and not
accurate on the first pound as to ounces,
which [ think the most important, as all
high-priced spices, teas, etc., are sold by
the ounce. [ will insist that all counter
scales be absolutely correct before [ seal
them.
Il have not had the time to get to the
milk bottles, but from what [ have seen
some of the milk looks pretty blue to
NE. Could tell better if [ tested it to
| find if it all came from the COW. After
this rainy weather is over-that may
make a change.
Il am having some trouble to make
dealers understand that after my first
visit they cannot use new measure un-
til am notified, but on the whole find
them willing to comply with the law.
[ want them all to cooperate with me,
co go after the fellow higher up, as in
most cases, they are the ones to blame
for shortage, and | want to protect the
dealer as we'll as the customer, and am
of the opinion that when | get the right
measures and accurate scales in and
dealers use them right, the advertising
WatertOWn will get as full weight
and measure town will be an asset to
look up to, and will draw trade and in
habitants as much as anything we can
do for the city,
Edward Gnatzig,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.