Report upon weights and measures / By John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State of the United States. Prepared in obedience to a resolution of the Senate of the third March, 1817.

  • United States. Department of State.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report upon weights and measures / By John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State of the United States. Prepared in obedience to a resolution of the Senate of the third March, 1817. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    257/272 (page 241)
    Ml The land surveyor at Stockholm is authorized and required to in- spect the conduct of the land surveyors in the interior, and to see that they do their duty herein. The measure for all kinds of grain, and for flour, salt, beef, and .fish, must be made square, to promote the facility of ascertaining their justness, by the foot measure. But round measures are allowed for measuring salt* grain, and other dry merchandise, 071 hoard of ves- sels when imported from foreign countries. This round measure must be assayed once in every two months during the season of naviga- tion, and while it is used a square measure ought to be at hand, with which to compare it. For measuring sea-coal, charcoal, chalk, and lime, the round measure is generally allowed. The seller is permit** ted to measure his own goods, but he must then pay the ordinary fee to the public measurer. Square measures are assayed by the foot rule, and round measures, if tight, by water, if not tight, by wheat or flaxseed. All measures for use ought to be made of seasoned wood, and their capacity stamped on the inside. To distinguish between the several sorts of weights, the victualievigt ought to be made round, and the metallsvigt hexagonal, and these weights, when used in the stapelstads, are to be marked with a round stamp, and, when used in the interior, with a square stamp. The bergshammersvigt, ought to be made triangular. Steelyards were prohibited in 1638 and 1665, and were again prohi- bited by the ordinance of 1739, excepting for ore, and pig iron, by pro- prietors, for their own satisfaction ; and also in such places where no regular weights are to be had. The ordinance of 1739, also excepts for the buying and selling of fish, and for domestic use, also for coun- try people who bring their produce to market; in this case, however, the steelyards must be regularly adjusted, and not of a greater power than two lispounds, victualievigt. The large weights for use are made of iron or bronze, and adjusted with solder or lead, on which the stamp is impressed. The small weights are made of bronze; in- deed, an ordinance of Gustavus the Third required all weights to be made of bronze, but this ordinance has had hitherto but a partial ex- ecution. Every person who uses weights or measures not conform- able to the standards established by law is liable to a penalty. I have now furnished all the information of any interest, which I have been able to collect here, relative to weights and measures, and I trust it will be found at least sufficient to satisfy the resolution of the Senate, so far as that resolution has any relation to Sweden. I have the honor to be, with very great respect. Sir, Your faithful and obedient servant, JONA. RUSSELL. To the Hon. John QtrjNCY Adams*