The Detroit times., 1913-09-30
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN.
TSmes W0shtw0t0n Bnre0u, No.
Metropolitan Bonk BviIdJm0.

| RAYMOND w. PULL4AN.
Times WosAtw0ton BnreGs, No. 70l
Metropolitan B0nk BSjIdja0.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Sept. 3d.
Before leaving for Europe. few days
ago, TO attend the
Railroad international Con
scales. gress on Weights
and Meaanres.
Prof. 8. w. Stratton. chief OF the
United States bureau OF standards. In
dorsed the plans for the series OF
countrywide tests OF railroad scales
TO be conducted by men OF his ONCE
In accordance with the act Of Con-
gress passed during the closing days
of the last administration.
l.. A. Fischer, chief of the division
Of weights and measures Of the bur
reau OF standards. who will be In d.
rect charge Of the men conducting
the work. has just received notice
from the manufacturers Of the new
railroad test car that both the equip
ment and test weights have been in
stalled and that delivery will be made
to the bureau within the course Of the
next ten days or two weeks. Using
this equipment, the government ex-
parts will make the first official test
Of railway scales under the new law
at Bridgeport, Conn. on the property
OF the New York. New Haven 4 Hart
ford railroad. The car will then pro-
coed to Vermont to make an exami-
nation Of railroad scales In that state,
ut the request Of the state commits
sionsr OF weights and measures. Lat
or tho test car equipment will be sent
from state to state for the examina-
ton of railroad scales
This government investigation look.
ing into the accuracy OF railroad
scales. over which nearly 1000, 0OO, 900
tons OF products Of the country's fac
tories. farms and mines are shipped
each year. Is the beginning Of. per
haps. the most extensive series OF
weight tests ever made by the United
States or by any other government.
The freight revenues Of all the rail-.
roads Of the country reporting to the
interstate commerce commission are
approximately $4,000, 900. 900.
The significance of the series OF
government tests Of railroad scales
may be quickly seen when 1t Is under.
stood that even II the scales of the
country will average only per cent
In error, there is loss of 5000, OOu
. year either to railroads or to the
shippers. Oncial investigations OF
miscellaneous scales and measures IN
all parts OF the country have shown
that many scales are much more than
per cent In error. In fact, In q bu-
reau OF standards test made several
years ago II was found that IS per
cent OF $4,000 scales and measures
tested by the government were per
cent or more In error, often against
the interests OF the consumer. Both
the shippers Of the country and the
railroads will welcome the series OF
weight tests which Uncle Sam 10 just
about to begin. because neither the
shippers nor the railroads can AFFORD
to lose money because Of faulty scales
when such tremendous sums 90 are
involved In the country's freight rev
enues are at stake.
The new test car 10 made after the
special design Of L. A. Fischer. the
government weights and measures ex-
pert, and II made after . plan differ.
ent from any other which has ever
been constructed In any country. Oth-
or test cars have used the entire
weight OF the car az test weight.
This plan has been unsatisfactory
however, because cars frequently
must be placed In the shop for repairs
and the weight 10 constantly changed
by alterations which have 20 be made
because OF wear and tear. To over
come all possible changes in weight
from this cause Mr.. Fischer has plan.
ned . system Of putting the test
weights inside Of . regulation freight
car especially equipped with cranei
to handle the weights carefully. A
six-wheeled truck. Weighing 1000
pounds, will be carried In the car
This truck will be taken out each time
there II q test Of scales and will re-
ceive weight up TO 100000 pounds. In
tho car proper there are carried eight
weights Of 10000 pounds each. four
Of $500 pounds. and 10000 pounds oi
60-pcund weights.
frame construction with wood super.
structure, and was built at the Ameri'
can Car & Foundry compan5's shop1
at Berwick, Pa. The lifting cranes
and other equipment were installed
at 0lenbrook, Conn. by A. H. Emery.
The weights. which were made at
Wilmington, Del. have already been
tested and adjusted by experts Of the
bureau Of standards. Congress appro
priated $4,000 for the purchase Of
the car. which has cost approximately
$4,000, equipped. Part Of the 70
mainder Of the appropriation will be
used In paying for the salaries Of the
crew Of three experts who will travel
with the car TO make the tests.
Thit investigation OF railroad scales
which will be made by the govern
ment with its new test car. will pei.