The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-25
FRIDAY, AUGUST %, 1916.
A STANDARD BARREL

The state department of weights and
measures has issued circular letter in
regard to the recently enacted federal
standard barrel law which went into
effect July l of this year. This is of
especial interest to Vermont for the
reason that this state is one of the best
apple growing states in the Union. and
it is important that everyone should be
familiar with the law because it governs
the measuring of multitude of com
modities besides apples The standard
barrel for fruit, vegetables and dry
commodities other than cranherries is
required to be of the following dimen-
sions: Length of stave, 2s1a inches; di
ameter of heads, us inches; distance
between heads, 20 inches; circumference
OF bulge, "a. inches, outside measure
mcnt; thickness of stave not greater
than four-tenths of an inch; provided
that any barrel of different form hav-
ing capacity of 1856 cubic inches
be considered standard.
In connection with this law the de-
partment of weights and measures has
received from the federal bureau of
standards letter containing the fol-
lowing regulations:
\ Until Oct. l, 1916. barrels HAVING =
capacity of less than one standard bar
rel and more than three-fourths stan
dard barrel may be used but only in
case each of such barrels SO used is
clearly, conspicuously, and permanent
ly marked, branded, or stenciled in LET
tiers and figures at least one inch in
/ helght, with the words ''3-4 Standard
Barrel. - If the barrel has two heads
such marking shall be upon both heads
/ or upon the side of the barrel, and if
\ the barrel has but one head such mark
/ ing shall be upon the side of the bar
\ rel Barrels having a capacity of less
/ IMAM three-fourthS standard barrel but
more than onc-half standard barrel. and
/ barrels having a capacity of less than
/ ohe-half standard barrel but more than
ohe-thlrd standard barrel NAV also be.
| used but only If each such barrel is
! marked ''l-2 Standard Barrel. - or
| lib Standard Barrel" respectively.
! IN the same manner as is required in
the case of the barrels mentioned above.
| The conditions under which such bar
rels may be used should be thoroughly
understood and strictly followed since
II they are not fully complied with the
user will be liable to the penalties pro-
4 Vlded for In the act. 1t is especially
/ to be noted that no other markings than
those mentioned above can be permitted
since no other sizes than those men
toned are recognized in the standard
barrel law. Therefore, marking of
barrel with its actual capacity, such
/ as IL pecks, or marking it short. -
Will not exempt the user from the
penalties provided.
Of course, it is obvious that the bar
rels so marked as above must be sold
on the basis of the marking thereon;
that is, for instance, barrels marked
| 81 Standard Barrel' NAV not be de-
! livered or billed as "barreIsD when
commodities are contracted for, or or
dered by the barrel, or when ''barrelsD
are purported to be delivered.
After October /, 1916, no barrel NAV
/ he used which is not of one of the
sizes specified in the act, and any per
son using for purposes included within
the act, barrels of other than the sizes
prescribed will be liable to the penalties
provided by the act.