Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-05
DEPARTMENT OF WEIGHTS
MEASURES AND MARKETS.

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The department has. during tho last
fiscal year. exercised closer supervision
over weights and measures in the Distric,
than ever before. Each scale in the
District Is tested twice year. and the
number Of so-called surprise inspec-
tons has been gradually increased
Test purchases for the purpose of as
certaining whether or not correct
weights and measures are being given
have been made frequently, and every
complaint of short weight or measure
has been promptly investigated. Pros
1t was believed the public interest de-
manded.
During the latter part Of the year the
department began the work OF testing
the gasoline measuring pumps in the
District, and this work will be prose-
cuted until all such pumps have been
tested and sealed by an inspector. In
the future each pump will be tested
once year.
1t is the intention to take up during
the coming fiscal year the work OF test
ing the druggists prescription scales
and jewelers. scales. This is q field
which has not been covered before. but
which is Of considerable Importance.
The municipal markets-The mu-
nicipal markets provide means whereby
nominal rental, a place to sell their
products. and thus enable the consum-
ers to purchase the necessaries OF life
at lower price than they could other
wise do. The Farmers Produce mar
ket (now known as the Haskell mar
ket) especially meets a very definite
need of the truckers and farmers ada
cent to Washington. While this mar
ket is now crowded and it is often
found impossible to accommodate all
to- hal xryhA
additional shelter which has been pro-
vided for has been erected. the accom-
modations will be adequate. Condi-
tons at the fish wharf and market have
steadily improved since the control OF
District, and when the new building at
that point, for which an appropriation
of sfs5.000 has been made, is completed
the possibilities Of the market can be
fully developed, and trade which has
want of facilities will come back. Con-
ditions at the Eastern, Western and
Georgetown markets have not been en-
tirely satisfactory during the year. II
has required considerable effort to
keep the stasis~rented, due, it is be-
lieved, partially to the fact that a great
many hucksters operate in the District
and to the further fact that needed re-
pairs have not been made.
Lumber and wood-During the year
e,s6s.6s4 feet of lumber were inspected
and graded and 415.7s6 feet condemned.
The gross fees collected amounted to
$2,23S.s4; expenses. $74s.53; net fees re-
tanned by the inspector for services.
$1.489.11.
The wood inspectors reported 49,
1921 cords of wood measured and
graded; gross fees collected, $1,508.60:
expenses, s139.s0: net fees retained for
services. $1,368.80.<
Receipts and expenditures-The to-
tai receipts of the department, exc1ud-
ing the fees Of the wood and lumber in
spectors which. under the law, are re-
tanned by these employees for services
rendered. were $87,3s2.4s. The total
expenditures were $23,311.O2. leaving a
net revenue of $14.071.47.
The Commissioners recommend the
enactment of law fixing the standard
weight of bread manufactured for sale,
sold, or offered for sale in the District.
that the wood and lumber inspectors be
placed on a fixed salary and the fees
collected for their services be turned
into the Treasury. and the enactment
of comprehensive weights and meas
ures law for the District which will
meet the requirements Of modern busi-
ness methods.