32 BULLETIN 558, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



as the farmer, but it is alleged that some elevator operators employ 

 the short-weight method of overcoming shrinkage losses. This is 

 probably true, especially in the case of elevators owned by corpora- 

 tions or associations, where the directors do not understand that 

 grain can not be handled through the elevator without some shrink- 

 age, and the manager fears action on his bond in the event of dis- 

 crepancies between in and out weights. Where all scales are accu- 

 rate, shrinkage in handling grain may be determined by comparing 

 the " in " weights with the " out " weights. 



AID IN FILING CLAIMS. 



It is imperative that the out weights be accurate, in order that 

 positive knowledge of the exact weight of each car of grain may be 

 had. It then becomes comparatively easy to establish a check upon 

 the weights received at the central market and, in case of discrep- 

 ancy, to afford a substantial basis upon which to file claims for 

 losses incurred. The matter of loss in transit, together with the 

 variation in weights at the country elevator and the central mar- 

 ket, is a subject demanding careful study. At almost all terminal 

 markets particular attention is paid to the accuracy of the scales, 

 and when variation between shipping and receiving weights occurs 

 the central market is prone to believe the out-weighing scales at the 

 country point are unreliable. On account of the general reliability 

 of terminal-market scales many buyers prefer to make purchases 

 from the terminal market at a slightly additional cost. Some coun- 

 try dealers not only have their scales inspected frequently, but also 

 supply the purchaser with an affidavit of their reliability. It seems 

 likely that some uniform system of scale inspection and affidavit 

 weight records will be installed eventually. 



TESTING FARM SCALES. 



The farmer should not neglect the testing of the farm scales, if 

 he employs them to confirm elevator weights. Many misunderstand- 

 ings and erroneous conclusions regarding business ethics of parties to 

 a transaction are based on weights secured from farm or elevator 

 scales the accuracy of which has not been verified for a considerable 

 period of time. 



Farmers may test the accuracy of their scales by securing ten or 

 twenty 50-pound test weights. These are weighed first at the cen- 

 ter of the scale platform. Additional tests should then be made to 

 check the accuracy of the scale by recording the weight registered 

 when the test weights are placed at each corner of the platform. 

 To determine the accuracy of the scale still further the weight of a 

 loaded wagon may be recorded, after which the test weights should 



