EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V 309 



It is feared that in the past Iowa has been made a dumping 

 ground for some worthless and many poorly constructed scales. 

 It appeared necessary to draw the reins tighter. Accordingly, 

 the department adopted in full the "Specifications and Tolerances 

 for Weights and Measures and Weighing and Measuring Devices 

 as adopted by the eleventh annual conference on the weights and 

 measures of the United States, held at the Bureau of Standards, 

 Washington, D. C, May 23 to 26, 1916, and recommended by the 

 Bureau of Standards for adoption by the several states." The 

 adoption of these rules, which must be complied with by those 

 wishing to do business in Iowa, has worked a marked improve- 

 ment, and Iowa very soon will have an average for accuracy not 

 excelled by any state. 



As competition has grown keener and prices risen higher the 

 number of requests for scale inspections has doubled and trebled. 

 The department has 'had one more inspector of "heavy" scales 

 during the past year but it is still impossible to answer requests 

 as promptly as should be done and it now appears that a fourth 

 man will be necessary with the opening of spring. 



That the cheapest device is often the most expensive is a fact 

 well known by most merchants. A grocer, coal dealer, miller, 

 farmer or other merchant or individual whose entire business or 

 return for labor depends upon the scales employed should cer- 

 tainly invest enough money to secure a good instrument. But 

 after purchasing a thoroughly good scale he is only started. Proper 

 installation, including a substantial foundation and proper drain- 

 age are absolutely necessary. These things 'done, the operator 

 should give the scale the attention it so well deserves. x*Iany a 

 man has found too late that his profits were gone because his scale 

 did not weigh accurately. 



If the writer were operating an Iowa farm entailing as is re- 

 quired an investment equal to that of the average bank, he would 

 certainly buy from some responsible concern the best scale to be 

 found. If this seemed not to be practicable he would demand that 

 the elevator scales, stock scales, or others over which he bought 

 and sold, be constructed as the law provides, that they be prop- 

 erly installed and cared for, and that they be examined frequently 

 by a representative of the state department. What is said con- 

 cerning the farmer applies with equal force to every one who buys 

 or sells any commodities the price for which is determined by 



