Evening star., 1927-05-25
WEIGHTS MEN HEAR
OF MASTER SCALE
Will Assure Universal Stand
ardization at Chicago,
Burgess Tells Conference.

A huge master scale, which will
weigh all the freight moved on all the
railroads of the country, will soon be
installed at Chicago, if plans outlined
to the Conference on Weights and
Measures today by it's president, DIR.
George *. Burgess, mat2rialize. The
scale DR.. Burgess declared, will insure
absolutely accurate weight on all pro-
ducts carried by the railroad, where
under the present system there is no
possibility of consistently fair weight.
DIR. Burgess spoke at the second
session of the conference, which is
meeting at the Bureau of Standards
here.
This universal standardization of
freight weight, it was explained, Will
be secured through the installation of
the massive scale to be maintained by
the Bureau of Standards.
Roads Offer Land.
The master scale will standarize the
testing cars of the railroads, which
the railroads in turn will use for test
ing and adjusting railroad track scales
through the United States. Thus the
correct standard of weights will be
transferred to the scales used in
weighing all the carload freight in
the country.
Land for this purpose has been Of
fered by the railroads using the Chica-
go yards, and $4,000 was appropriate
ed by Congress for a building to house
the scale and for its installation, DIR.
Burgess explained, but delay has been
caused by a clause in the contract
that the land would revert
to the railroad if the Government
ceased to use it for that purpose.
Since it is impossible to accept the
gift of land under these terms, he
said, it is now necessary to secure
the gift Of the land in fee simple.
This, he believes, will soon be ac-
and the work begun.
Under the present inaccurate sys-
tenn, it was explained. wholesalers fire.
uuently receive short-weight merchan-
die and have to pay freight charges
on the fun amount. as well as TO pay
the costs of the full amount.
Extra Cost Passed On.
This extra cost is passed on to the
consumer. On the other hand, the rail-
roads themselves have frequently ship
ped freight in excess weight and lose
money. Inc ldllloduS, H. bui cS7o
said, are anxious for the master scale
to be installed. and he predicted that
there would be no further hitch in the
plans.
f.. J. Saldana, executive secretary
of the government of Porto Rico, told
the conference of methods used in
standardizing weights in the sugar
industry Of Porto Rico. A group of
every year makes a trip to
inspect all railroad scales used to
weigh sugar, he said, and in addition
travelling inspectors are constantly
checking up on the accuracy of the
scales.
A vast amount Of money. he said.
has been saved as a result OF this
of weights in Porto
Rico's leading industry.
David Lawrence, president of the
United States Daily, urged the mem
bers of the conference to discard
terms and use simple Eng
lish in dealing with the press. Ihe
given to scientific news oIten
depends on it's wording, he said, ana
material is often over
looked because it is written in
language difficult to understand. He
suggested that the cooperation of
material to the papers.
Wider Radio Use Urged.
What IS of most importance to the
scientists, he explained, is not always
of the most interest to the public. He
suggested a wider use of the radlo,
predicting that it would play a greater
and greater part in the spreading Oh
news.
Differences of opinion regarding the
best methods for regulation Oh new
typeS of devices were Expressed Wy
several speakers on the subject. III.
Burgess, in his address, suggested tilMat IL
the conference draw up specifications
and submit them to the dlf1efehl
States, and that the States pass laws
based on these specifications 1or the
regulation of new types.
II. l.. FURY, chief of the division
of weights and measures of Alabama,
declared that approval of particular
types, was the only feasible method
for regulating the many mechanical
devices on the market. Field lnspec-
ton. he said, is inadvisable, because
no uniform action can be taken, ana
the approval of device rests on the
opinion Of the individual inspector.
Voluntary submission of samples. ne
declared, is playing with the job"
Would Control Weighing.
Control of weighing and measuring
devices as establishment or some
method of type approval was urged
in q paper from William +. SWogef,
director Of the Pennsylvania State Bu-
reau of Standards. Jurisdiction over
various types should be vested In the
Bureau of Standards, he said.
Mr.. Swoger pointed out that great
efficiency has resulted from the type
control system, but that obstacles are
being encountered frequently IN the
laws of other States, which often con-
fiict. Enormous detail work also mas
caused some difficulty, he said.
The Massachusetts, law governing
weighing and measuring devices was
explained to the conference by John
]. Cummings, Massachusetts 1nspec'
tor of standards. The fiexibility of the
law, he said, has permitted general
enforcement to be extended over
period Of years, while it allows i'm
mediate action in cases of controversy
or when doubtful devices are OBJ
served. Mr.. Cummings urged that
other States follow Massachusetts and
pass a similar law.
Urges Better Supervision.
More efficient methods of super
vision of types Of weighing and meas
uring devices was urged by George
Warner, chief State inspector OF
weights and measures of Wisconsin,
who pointed out that bureau to
which a manufacturer could submit
a device would eliminate much of the
trouble arising now out of various
methods of supervision.
Mechanical rather than individual
inspection was urged wherever pos
sibie.
O