Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-08
CLOSE INSPECTION
PROTECTS BUYER
In This COUNTY

Few in Imperial Valley perhaps, ap-
preciate the work by the sealer OF
weights and measures to protect them
| from the possible unscrupulous dealer
and to see they are given full value III
| commodities purchased. F. W. Waite,
horticultural commissioner, is also seal
er of weights and measures for the
county, the latter work being in direct
charge of b. a. Harrigan, assistant hor-
ticultural commissioner.
Under the law, all weights and
measures, scales, tanks etc, must be
inspected at least once year and
stamped by the sealer to show they are
up to standard requirements. The work
covers scales, weights and measures
used in stores, farms, warehouses and
public weights platforms, automobile
service stations, ice wagons and ice
companies, milk routes and dairies, and
every place where things are sold by
measurement. There is no set time for
inspecting weights and measures.
great majority of merchants are entire
ly willing to cooperate with the author
tiles in this respect, the only trouble
being with small dealers, usually for
eigners, who are inclined to take a
chance if they believe they can get
away with it. In the case of metal or
wooden measures, a die is used to GER
tify date of inspection on the instru-
ment, and for large scales and vessels,
u stamp is pasted in conspicuous
place. Automatic measuring apparatus,
nan anarailr- uSaA OF StofinnS Dr,4
sealed with piece of wire having a
metal disc, on which is stamped the in
spection date.
Instruments or apparatus FOUND to be
out of order or tampered with, are
tagged with a large red tag, warning
the owner not to use them until they
have been repaired and passed by the
inspector. The tag is. printed in two
sections, one of which containing data
relative to inspection is detached by
the inspector. A date by which the in
strument must be repaired is set,
record is kept by the inspector and the
dealer, and the latter is held respon-
sible for the repair or replacement of
the instrument by this date. The tag
placed on the instrument states in Eng
lish, Spanish, Italian and German that
it has been condemned and must not
be used until authorized by the inspect
or.
Inspection is also made of vegetables,
meats and other goods sold and any
thing found 10 be of inferior quality
is condemned and destroyed by the in
spector. Although there is no regular
inspection of milk sold at retail to
households, the herds and dairies pro
ducing such milk are inspected by the
horticultural commissioner and required
to conform to the law. Cattle found
diseased are condemned and unsanitary
conditions eliminated wherever they
exist. 1t is a point of pride with the
horticultural commissioner shat both
these points cause them very little
trouble as the dairy industry in the
valley is of an exceptionally high stand.
ard.
At the present time, the horticultural
commissioner has u inspectors in the
valley, inspecting cantalOupes, water
melons, tomatoes and other vegetables
to see that nothing is sold or shipped
that is not up to legal requirement. Re
Gently a japanese cantaloupe grower at
Heber was fined 800 for endeavoring
to ship inferior melons after they had
been condemned by Inspector Mr..
Waite says his inspectors have turned
in the names of seven growers in the
north end of the valley for the same
violation and it is his intention to pros
| ecute them as soon as proper complaint
can be filed. Inspectors all have in
struetions TO enforce. the inspection
| laws rigidly this season and to report
| offenders Immediately The penalty for
infractions of this sort is left to the
| discretion of the trial Judge and the
recommendation of the horticultural
| commissioner.
According to Mr.. Waite, growers en-
| deavoring to ship inferior produce are
extremely unwise, for they not only
run the risk of prosecution if caught,
but also give the valley bad name in
the markets, thereby reducing their
chances of making future sales and
causing loss to themselves.
l. While the inspection of weights and
measures and of Horticultural products
| requires constant vigilance on the part
of the authorities, Mr.. Waite believes
a large majority Of people endeavor to
live up to the law and are anxious to
cooperate with him in its enforcement
Miss Eva DanielSan who taught al