3. Radius of Oscillation.

The center of oscillation "o" in a beam or any rotating body is that point at which if the entire weight were concentrated the combination would continue to vibrate in the same intervals of time. Parts nearer the fulcrum "c" move slower than those farther from it, but the center of oscillation travels the same average distance and has the same velocity of all particles. It is not at the centers of gravity c, s or h, nor at the center of gyration "i". Its position is found by formula.

(10) r=K/d Numerized:

T4203/4.76 = 8.83"

At this distance from rotation center "c" lies the center of oscillation "o" of the whole combination. In other words, if the pivot "c" were moved to center of oscillation "o" the vibrations would be here of the same duration as in the spot it formerly occupied. These mechanical centers, radii and dignity were derived from the moment if inertia and have a relation as already shown in formulae 4 and 5. To check all deductions and calculations the following equations must be satisfied within small reasonable limits.

When M the participating mass (beam and loads) and I the amount of inertia about the center of gravity "h". These three products prove by close equality the assumption, that the center of oscillation is interchangeable or convertible with the center of rotation and will have the same duration in vibrating through a small arc, not exceeding 2 per cent of the distance between pivots a and b. All functions are now sufficiently explained and established to proceed in the determination of time for the commercial Scale, Fig. 2, Catalog No. 1212, under consideration.

Period of Oscillation.

The time-formula for compound pendu lum is

(3) t-2 pi (K2/dg)1. Numerized and applied to obtained data: t-628 X (42.03/4.76 x 32.2). Answer: Time 3.2 seconds.

By actual trial with a beam taken from the scale the time of vibration averaged in 60 tests 2% seconds and when levers and platform were attached the period increased to 42 seconds.

To review the beam under load, see Fig. 3, where the weight of beam remains as before 2.44 lb., the counterpoise "C" increases to 6.89 lb. By exper.ment and calculation, it is found the center of gravity "h" to be now the distance "d" equal to 9.72" from pivot "c", the ballast required at "a" for this case increases to B 36.34 lb. With these data, the moment of inertia, as per formula (N) is 5627 lb. inches'. Other functions are K 123.21 inches and radius of os. cillation, or the true length of the pen

It remains yet to show the method of proving the convertibility of the center of oscillation "o" with the rotating center "c" in the same interval of time. Referring to Fig. 3, the center of oscillation "o" lies beyond pivot "6", still in metal of beam, the distance "e" 2.95" from the center of gravity "h". When formula (2) is compared with (13) it I will be clear that "r" in inches is equivalent to L in feet and must follow the same law, that is the true length of the simple pendulum L is now represented in the distance "r". For the oscillation around rotation center "G", the distance "d" furnishes the value as expressed in formula (3). Then for the oscillation about center "o" the distance "e" must give the same result for the same purpose, when all other means are considered, formula (8) will read:

Io As+Bf+ Cl2 + Me2.

Io 1709.88 lb. inches2. Ko2 = 37.44 inches'.

(14) t = 2 pi (K3o/eg)1. Numerized:

6.28 X (37.44/94.993 t = 3.8 seconds, which is precisely the same period of vibration.

Having the scale loaded Fig. 2 to full capacity, 300 lb. on platform, and 6 lb. upon counterpoise, the average time of 15 tests increased to 54 seconds for the beam to travel from upper to lower bar of trig loop or in reversed direction. This increase of time indicates friction to retard the motion under the load on platform. In this review it is assumed that the 3 pivots a, c, b lie in one line and the center of gravity close to edge "c" granting a safe oscillation. Larger beams are of equal importance to furnish material for future consideration. (To Be Continued.)

Wood by the Cord

New Hamshire Commissioner of Weights and Mea. sures H. A. Webster warns the Public against purchasing by the Load

In view of the fact that this department is daily receiving complaints concerning the manner in which wood is being sold, it seems advisable to issue a public warning which will in some measure prevent the people of New Hampshire from being further imposed upon by wood dealers who insist on taking an unfair advantage at this time when the fuel situation is so critical. Unfortunately the law in this particular respect is not as stringent as it should be and consequently many people when purchasing wood by the load rather than by the cord or fraction thereof are paying at the rate of $20 or more a cord. Such a condition of affairs is deplorable, for the prevailing custom is nothing more or less than a gross imposition upon the people of New Hampshire.

In purchasing fire wood the Public should carefully inquire and obtain the

cost per cord, which is the only system of measurement under which this Department can make inspections and verify delivery. Terms used in the sale of wood such as "tier," "load," or "basketful" are vague and therefore provide a convenient opportunity for deception. Wood dealers know that a standard cord consists of 128 cubic feet and everyone should demand that a dealer in wood quote his price per cord, half cord, or quarter cord. It is wholly unreasonable to assume that a dealer in wood will sell that commodity cheaper by the load than by the cord. In purchasing wood by the cord the Public will know the exact quantity it is receiving and it is the duty of measuring officials to verify the quantity whenever requested to do so.

The following suggestion if adopted would, to some extent, be the means of alleviating the existing condition of affairs. If the Boards of Trade of the various cities and towns throughout New Hampshire could persuade someone in their respective towns who has wood for sale to sell it by measure rather than by the load they would soon find that they could abolish this inquitous custom which is very flagrant throughout the state. By adopting this course the inevitable result would be that the Public would soon become aware that it received more for its money when buying from the man who sells by the cord rather than from the one who sells by the load, and by conspicuously advertising the "load" fellow, the latter would soon find it necessary to follow the example of his honest competitor, or else go out of business. It is my purpose to suggest to the next legislature that it amend Section 14, Chapter 126, of the Public Statutes in such a way that it will be compulsory to sell all fire wood, except board ends and bobbin wood, by the cord or fraction thereof, but it is my opinion that the only solution of the present dfficulty concerning this matter is to carry out the above suggestion.

The wood dealers are thoroughly familiar with the insufficiency of the existing law and the Public should also be familiar with it, for carelessness and indifference in the estimation of quantities in the sale of wood ought to be prevented. The present prices are surely ample for the man who draws a cord of wood into any town or city and therefore he has not the least excuse for delivering, for instance, two-thirds of a cord as a "load" and accepting the price of a cord, for he deliberately steals onethird of the purchase price. Let me suggest to the people of New Hampshire that they demand a cord or fraction thereof when buying wood; if they buy by the "load," it is their own fault for. as has already been stated, that term is vague and cannot be estimated through any system of measurement. A cord is a cord, and is a pile of four foot wood, eight feet long and four feet high. The people do not fix the price--they pay itand they are entitled to what they pay for.

A. G. Zeibel, Sec'y of the National Scale Men's Association has changed his address to 420 East 12th St., Dallas, Texas. Keep this address so that you may know where to send your dues to the Association.

It is interesting to note the American Soldier's opinion of the Metric System of Weights and Measures, used in France. The following article is taken from the Paris edition of the New York Herald, and was sent to us by Corp. Harry Evert, former employee of the Chicago Board of Trade Weighing Department, who is now with the A. E. F.

Before many years the American people will adopt the French (metric) system of weights and measures. A strong movement in that direction has already begun. Why? Chiefly because economy. Let us understand the metric system and then let us reason together.

of

What is the Metric System? A good system of measures should be based on fixed universal units, capable of exact definition and of re-determination at any time. In 1790 an official committee apFrench Government pointed by the selected such a unit-the unit of length -on which the whole metric system is founded. That unit is one ten-millionth part of the distance, on the earth's surface, from the Equator to the Pole along the meridian passing through Paris.

The unit was named the "metre" (m.); American spelled "meter" in

usage. Its length was calculated to be 39.370432 inches (3.28 feet), and a metal bar representing the unit is carefully preserved in Paris. There is a duplicate bar in Washington. A later, more accurate measure of the distance between the Earth's pole and equator has shown that the standard bar should be very slightly longer, but in practice the official bar well matches the original definition of "meter."

Larger units were developed by the use of Greek prefixes. Decameter is a unit 10 meters long. Hectometer is a unit 100 meters long. Kilometer (km.) is a unit 1,000 meters, or 3,281 feet, long. Of these three, kilometer is the only one much used.

Areas are now easily described in terms of square kilometers, square meters. square decimeters, square millimeters, etc. Because of needs special to land measurement, a new word, "are," was invented to mean an area of 100 square meters, and from this, using the Greek prefix already noted, the unit "hectare," equal to 10,000 square meters (2.47 acres), was established. In practice "are" is little used.

Volumes are as readily described-in terms of cubic kilometers, cubic meters, cubic millimeters, etc. The special name liter (1.6 U. S. quarts, liquid measure) is given to the cubic decimeter, the unit of volume most used in trade. The derived unit hectoliter (hl.), also much used, is readily seen to be equal to 100 liters.

Standard Weights.

The unit of weight is the weight of one ic centimeter of pure water weighed

By A. R. DALY

under standard conditions; it is called a gram (gr., French gramme). The kilogram (kilo. or kg.), equal to 1,000 grams, or 15,435 grains, or 2.2 pounds avoirdupois, is the principal unit of industry and

commerce.

For fine weighing, smaller units, named through the Latin prefixes above-mentioned, are centigram (cg.) and milligram (mg.); decigram is seldom used. The largest unit of weight is the metric ton (French tonne), equal to 1,000 kilograms (2,204.6 pounds avoirdupois).

Present Obligatory Use of the Metric System: All but three or four of the European countries and practically all the countries of South America have adopted this as the only legal system. Its use is optional in the United States, Great Britain and Ireland, Russia, Japan and seven other countries.

Existing System in the United States: The metric system may seem complicated at first sight, but it is simplicity itself compared to the hodge-podge of units in America and the British Empire. Look at some illustrations.

(a) There are three kinds of miles recognized in English-speaking lands; the statute mile of 5,280 ft., the Admiralty knot or nautical mile of 6,080 ft., and the geographical mile or statute knot of 6,082.66 ft. The sailor has some reason for sticking to his nautical mile or knot, but there is no special merit in our common unit, the statute mile. In five European countries "mile" means as many different lengths and in no single case is it anywhere near our statute mile in value. The kind of mile has always to be stated and its actual value remembered, or else serious error of thought may result. Clearly, too, there are similar troubles with "square mile" and "cubic mile."

(b) We have one "quart" in dry measure; another "quart" in liquid measure. The United States "gallon" is quite different from an Imperial "gallon."

(c) We have one kind of pound (avoirdupois) equal to 7,000 grains, and two other kinds (Troy and apothecaries') each equal to 5,760 grains. Drams make up the pound avoirdupois; pennyweights make up the pound Troy; scruples make

up the apothecaries* pound. We have to distinguish between "short tons" (2,000 pounds avoirdupois) and "long tons" (2,240 pounds avoirdupois). Consider the delicious arithmetic of 1 dram equals 27 11-32 grains, 1 rod equals 52 yards, 1 square rod equals 30% square yards, 1 barrel equals 311⁄2 gallons, 112 pounds equals "one hundred weight" by the "long ton" method of mystification.

Millions Wasted.

In the United States alone tens of millions of dollars' worth of time and labor are annually wasted through the perpetuation of our present system of weights and measures. Tens of millions of pupils in our schools have to memorize our ghastly tables when they might be spending their precious time in memorizing something worth while. Tens of millions of our ablest men and women are wasting their lives so far as those lives have to be filled with the hash of troubles incidental to our precious pounds, gallons, miles and other relics of mediævalism.

They have to be careful as to what kind of pound, gallon or mile they are dealing with, be careful to tell it in speech or writing, and be careful with calculations based on systems which are not decimal nor duodecimal nor any other systematic thing under the sun! Meanwhile our crazy system is rapidly becoming unintelligible to all the rest of the buying and selling world except the British Empire. The metric system has been a powerful factor in spreading German trade, especially that with South America; are we going to preserve our handicap in the future competition?

The movement for the great reform needs your help. The power to enforce that reform by legislation lies in your vote when you get home.

Now in France you have a peerless opportunity to study the metric system, its beautiful simplicity, and its real elegance in operation.

Ancient Methods and Devices.

The history of weights and measures dates back to the earliest attempts of mankind to exchange commodities or engage in trade. Josephus, the great Jewish historian, attributes their invention to Cain, while various standards of weights and measures are frequently mentioned in the Bible. Most of the earlier standards were arbitrary and often subject to much variation. The diurnal and annual movements of the earth and the changes of the moon provided natural standards for the divisions of time, but linear measurements were customarily based upon some part or motion of the human body, as the span, foot, cubit, pace, stone's throw, or day's journey, and weights and capacity measures had values even less definite.

In some parts of China, even today, it is customary when starting a building to cut a measuring stick by which all materials are purchased and dimensions determined. A two-cubit rule, lost by an Egyptian workman 3,000 years ago while constructing the temple of Karnak, was recently discovered during explorations of the ruins and the temple dimensions have been found to conform to it. Steelyards and balances have been unearthed in the ruins of Pompeii. Archaeological researches in Assyria, Babylonia and other ancient lands have brought to light records of their various methods of determining values.

Medieval Measures.

An edict issued in Germany as late as the sixteenth century prescribed the following rule for fixing the standard of length: "Stand at the door of a church on Sunday and bid 16 men to stop as they come out, tall and small; have them put their feet, one behind the other and the length thus obtained shall be the right and lawful rood and the 16th part of it shall be the right and lawful foot."-From "Accuracy as an Aid to Conservation."

This is an old subject, one which has been given consideration by very competent scale authorities and the only reason the writer ventures to again take it up is due to several instances lately coming to his attention, in which scales were installed where it was evident that there was a misunderstanding as to what was allowable and what was not allowable in scale construction. These led him to believe that he might possibly aid in clearing up some of the obscure points along this line.

While it is generally agreed that scales should be installed with levers level, there is a divergence of opinion as to the amount of actual error that will be introduced with given out-of-level conditions. According to the specific cases that may come to various inspectors' attention, we will be advised that out-oflevel levers cause from "no difference in weights to considerable." A blanket statement such as this is dangerous in that under certain conditions either way may be a fact. The correct answer can never be given until the associated conditions are definitely known.

The indicated error as shown on beam by test may show at once the effect and amount of error due to a single fault. On the other hand, the same error in amount may be and generally is the algebraic sum of several. If a sealed lever of low or no range be connected to a sealing beam, it will be found that the lever may be thrown out of level surprising amounts and after-please noterebalancing, the variation is quite imperceptible. On the basis of this experiment, which has been performed many times, the idea has spread that the principle of having levers level has been over-rated in importance. The main difficulty here lies in overlooking the balance of the system. Every scale design assumes that through full capacity range, the balance shall remain constant. lever system containing levers out of level will in the majority of cases change balance, but this is weighed in with the load and if levers are in seal and of low range an application of test weights will show correct. The amount of error on balance depends on the distribution of metal in the levers themselves, the condition of the framing and condition of knife edges and bearings.

A

The analysis of a composite error is very interesting, but cannot always be completely accomplished owing to lack of facilities, nor is this necessary. What is necessary and essential is that the error be recognized as existing regard. less of the test weights. Test weights when used in the usual ratio to capacity of scale may show one thing and one thing only and that is the seal of the levers. As the levers are seldom commercially out of seal, the detection of error must fall largely on the inspection, and it is here that true knowledge of what will cause error and what will not, is essential. In a wide experience in this field the writer recalls many cases where scales have been passed as correct solely through test weight tests in connection with load, but comparative tests with scales known to be correct had shown a commercial discrepancy. In all these the faulty conditions were plainly evident and contrary to accepted principles of

scale building, and scales were passed owing to lack of understanding of what errors these faulty conditions would produce.

Now while it is not the intention to go too deeply into this subject it seems important to say that levers hung singly and tested out of level will show one result-connected in series another result, assembled as a scale with a superimposed load such as hopper or rigid bearing tracks, another result, and with load suspended a still different effect will be noted. So it can never be stated what error will be shown in a scale with out-of-level levers or other faulty conditions until all the conditions are known. The effect of range alone is material and this is not the same in all makes of scales with same length of lever and apparently same class. With the use of dial indicators, the effect of small faults in erection becomes more apparent and

thick. Front bricks are 4-inch longer and wider.

It requires 20 common bricks to lay one cubic foot. In an 8-inch wall 15 common bricks make one foot of wall.

Wood and Lumber Measure.

A cord of wood contains 128 cubic feet. To ascertain how many cords there are in a pile of wood, multiply the length by the height, and that by the width, and divide the product by 128.

To ascertain the circumference of a tree required to hew a stick of timber of any given number of inches square, divide the given side of the square by 0.225, and the quotient is the circumference required.

Round timber, when squared, loses onefifth.

To measure round timber, take the girth in inches at both large and small ends, add them, divide by 2, which gives the mean girth; then multiply the length in feet by the square of one-fourth of the mean girth and the product will be the contents of cubic feet. This rule is commonly adopted, and gives four-fifths

less permissible. Users are positively shown any variation from true weight by the indicator hand which variation cannot be well detected in the vibrations of a hand operated beam.

From all this it follows that there is just one safe and sure way and that is to have the foundation solid, scale level according to plans, and connections truly plumb.

Common Weights and Measures

Stone and Brick Walls.

A perch of stone 24.75 cubic feet. When built in the wall, 2% cubic feet are allowed for the mortar and filling; hence 22 cubic feet of stone make one perch of wall.

Masons estimate 3 pecks of lime and 4 bushels of sand to a perch of wall. To find the number of perches of stone in a wall, multiply together the length, height, and thickness in feet, and divide by 22.

Common bricks are 7 to 8 inches long by 4 inches wide and 2 inches

of the true contents, one-fifth being allowed to the purchaser for waste in saw ing.

To measure inch boards, multiply the length in feet by the width in inches, and divide the product by 12. The quotient will be the contents in feet. For lumber 1% inches thick, add to the quotient. If 11⁄2 inches thick, add If 1% inches thick, add. If 2 inches thick, divide by 6 instead of by 12. If 24 inches thick, add to the quotient. and so on. If 3 inches thick, divide by 4. If 4 inches thick, divide by 3. If 6 inches thick, divide by 2.

Covering Capacity of Shingles. Average size of shingles- 4x16 inches - is taken as a basis of calculation. 100 sq. ft. will require, laid 4 inches to the weather, 900.

100 sq. ft. will require, laid 4 inches to the weather, 800.

100 sq. ft. will require, laid 5 inches to the weather, 720.

Three and one-half pounds of fourpenny nails are required for laying 1,000 shingles.

a

The subject of the relative merits of these scales for a grain weighing purpose has been much dscussed question among scale men and all other parties interested in the correct supervision and weighing of grain.

In past years some of the organizations having the supervision over the weighing of grain have advocated the use of hopper scales as against track scales, while other bodies such as the railroads and some of the shippers' organizations favor the use of track scales.

Two of the most important things to be considered in discussing this subject is the ideal installation of track scales versus the ideal installation of hopper scales and what might be termed the old style construction of track scales versus the old style construction of hopper scales.

To start with, it is not fair to compare an old hopper scale of light capacity, set on cribbing and with wooden loading spouts and legs, as against a new modern track scale built on a good substantial concrete foundation, with ideal weighing conditions, good ventilation and plenty of room for cleaning and inspection. On the other hand, we can reverse this example and say that an old style track scale of light pattern, built on wood and stone, with poor accessibility and no protection from weather conditions, against a new 2,000 bushel hopper scale built

on good substantial concrete foundation, with steel hopper and spouting and ample room for inspection and maintenance.

The railroad track scale eliminates all possible loss of grain in transit from car to scale hopper, caused by one or more of the following conditions:

1. Leaky legs or loading spouts.

2. Open hopper or garner slides.

3. Grain clogging in grain pit, garner or hopper.

4. The invisible loss of grain in handling.

5. Telescoping of cars, or in other words, unloading another car before the proceeding one is elevated and weighed. 6. Screw and belt conveyors.

7. Erroneous weights taken in weighing with scale out of balance.

8. Loading over open scale pits or sinks.

While any of the above conditions might cause erroneous weights from time to time, the changes would be reduced to a minimum under ideal hopper scale installation and good weighing supervision.

Another point in favor of the track scales is that one man can supervise the weighing where if the scales are located in the cupola of an elevator, it will require a man upstairs and downstairs, thereby greatly increasing the cost of the service.

Where cars are weighed on track scales and the gross weights do not check out the same, an immediate examination of

the car and scale can be made to determine what has caused the discrepancy in weights.

On track scales the gross and tare cars. The weights are taken on all operation of weighing back the empty cars in most cases cuts any error in multiplication % or better, according to the tare weight of the car. For example; we will say a scale is quick in seal 100 lbs. or 100,000 lbs., a car of grain then weighing 100,000 lbs. on this scale would weight 100,100 lbs., and the empty car, having an actual tare of 40,000 lbs. would weigh 40,040 lbs., making an error of 60 lbs. on the car.

The hopper scale is a more sensitive instrument than a track scale and there is no question but what it is a closer weighing machine, when you compare the relative merits of the two as weighing machines and eliminate all other considerations.

Following are some of the advantages of the hopper scale over a track scale: 1. Scale beam graduated to 5 lbs., as against 20 lbs. on a track scale.

2. Hopper scale has less than half of the friction points a track scale has. 3. Hopper scale is not subject to the wear which a track scale is.

4. Hopper scale eliminates any errors due to weighing cars wet and then drying or with snow on and thawing off before empty car is weighed.

5. The hopper scale eliminates the possibility of weighing a man in ur on the cars or on the scale rails.

Another good comparison of these two scales would be an apothecary's scale where grain weights are used as against an ordinary grocer's counter scale. Both are correct weighing machines, but one is more delicate than the other and has finer weighing graduations.

Under the old style of construction in both hopper and track scales, the writer would strongly favor the hopper scale as against the track scale. While the old hopper scales of light capacity, built on timber and cribbing, will give lots of trouble, they are not near as dangerous as track scales with some of the following delinquencies:

1. No scale house to protect beam from wind.

2. No shed to protect cars from weather conditions.

3. Shallow pits with poor accessibility around levers for inspection and maintenance.

4. No car puller, engine being used for spotting cars and running over live rails. This practice deranges the positions of the levers.

Scales with poor accessibility will easily clog and freeze up.

Before summing up as to the merits of the two weighing machines under ideal construction, I will try to give you my idea of what ideal construction is:

1. Track scale-capacity sufficient for weighing all loads.

2. Length-not under 46 feet effective weighbridge.

7.

Provisions should be made to facilitate the inspection of scale levers in the shape of a portable or stationary platform.

Under ideal construction of both of these kinds of scales and proper supervision of weighing, it would appear to the writer that there is not much to choose between the relative merits of these two types of weighing machines.

While it will be readily seen that the track scale elminates a lot of possible faulty conditions, it must be also understood that these conditions seldom occur under efficient weighing supervision.

While the writer has no personal choice of these two weighing machines, founded on weighing results, he would be strongly inclined to recommend track scales on all new installations.

My reasons for the above recommendations are that track scales require only one weigher, making the cost of service cheaper and that many shippers of grain are somewhat skeptical about the weighing results obtained on hopper scales.

Connecticut.

Charles J. Gunning, sealer of weights and measures, of Hartford, reports that 107 scales were sealed and two condemned, and forty-three weights sealed and two condemned during September.

Sealer of Weights and Measures John Britton, of Stamford, has been in Spring. dale, testing scales and measures in business places. He announced conditions very good.

Illinois.

City Sealer Moll, of Peoria, warns all customers when buying coal to notice the color of the stencil mark on the wagon and if they are not in red, to refuse to purchase, and to notify the sealer. Moll recently gave orders for all the coal haulers to have their wagons weighed, and after so doing, Moll put the number and weight of the wagon on in red paint to signify that he weighed the wagon lately.

Massachusetts.

Charles F. Donahue, sealer of weights and measures of Arlington, died October 15, from pneumonia, following an attack of influenza.

John J. May, of the office of weights and measures has had three cases up before the judge for not selling fruit by weight.

A dealer of Dorchester was fined $25 for selling coal 200 pounds short weight. Another dealer was fined for selling coal other than by weight. Judge Sullivan, of Boston, warned all coal dealers that he will be severe with any brought to court and found guilty of unjust dealings, especially those who give snort weight to the poor and illiterate.

Fred M. Haggerty, sealer of weights and measures is at the Waltham Hospital, seriously ill with influenza.

A wholesale roundup of shortweight profiteers by Officers J. F. McBride and J. J. May of the State Department of Standards resulted in the fining of nine South Boston and South End Retailers.

Beware of the grocer or provision dealer who puts his hand on the scale when weighing your purchase. This is the warning given to housekeepers of Massachusetts by Thure Hanson, commissioner of standards, following a roundup of short weight offenders and the confiscation of nearly a hundred illegal scales and measures. Sixty-five cases were called before the court. Various cases of cheating were found, such as one scale whose pan was hung so high that the purchaser could not see whether it was empty or not before the goods purchased were to be put into it. There were two bolts in it which would probably weigh about half-pound. Their weight was added to the true weight of the articles put into the pan. One scale had a small wad of paper tucked into a niche under the bottom of the standard, thus cheating the customer out of a small part of a pound on every purchase. A balance taken from a junk dealer registered only four pounds when it should have marked five. This was used, of course, when its owner was buying.

Another trick found to be happening in Boston, has been two coal men that went to the coal pocket with an accomplice, and ordered two lots of coal, one for 3,900 and one for 4,100 pounds. The coal was delivered and two certificates of weight given. One of the men returned and stated that the weigher had not given him the slip for the 4,100 pounds. The sealer consulted with one of the inspectors in hiding and was advised to issue the slip, but mark it, "duplicate." The inspectors then trailed the two men. A short distance from the coal pocket the two wagons were met by an empty wagon and a transfer of a part of each load was made. The three wagons were then driven to a synagogue and delivery made of what the sexton believed were two 4,100 pound lots and a 3,900 pound lot. Sealer C. B. Woolley believes that this trick has been used before, though never having been discovered.

Former Patrolman A. F. Duffy, of the Arlington police department, has taken the duties of sealer of weights and measures to succeed Charles F. Donahue, who died of influenza.

Michigan.

City Sealer C. Skoowland, of Menominee, had a farmer up before the judge for selling short weight potatoes. He was fined $25 and costs, and compelled to pay back to his customer the amounts he had received for potatoes not delivered.

Minnesota

The Minnesota Railroad and Warehouse Commission's specifications and tolerances for railroad track scales, which were to have become effective December 1st, 1918, have been suspended until after the war. This refers to the new set of specifications gotten out by the Scale Department for the Railroad and Warehouse Commission and does not affect the standing of the building and setting requirements of the Commission that have been in force for a number of years. This conclusion on the part of the Minnesota Commission was reached as a result of a conference with Mr. R. H. Aishton, the Regional Director of the District, because of the war conditions and the curtailment put on manufacturers by the War Industries Board.

Missouri.

Food Administrator Elliott Marshall, of St. Joseph, says all inaccurate measuring implements must go. Richard Ray, city license inspector of St. Joseph, has complained that the hucksters, market booths and peddlers are using inaccurate scales and Marshall says offenders must stop or they will be punished. "It is part of the Food Administration's work to see that the people get what they pay for, and prosecution of any one reported, will follow the selling of short weights," said Mr. Marshall.

Montana.

Short measure ranging from a pint to half gallon in five gallon quantities was found to be given by seven out of nineteen gasoline stations in Butte. The stations were examined by F. N. Harris, city chemist.

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