On its Road to the Railway: Bullock-Cart Transport.
In all instances it should be the invariable rule that the rubber should be weighed before packing, and that all cases should contain uniform nett quantities of any particular type of rubber. Invoicing, etc., will thus be greatly facilitated. If these practices are followed, and the rubber always weighed on the same scales (assuming it to be perfectly dry when packed) complaints of “short-weight” should be infrequent.
“Short” Weights.—In some cases the occurrence of “short” weights on arrival at ports would appear to be inexplicable. It often happens that the constituent parts of wooden cases have been in stock for a considerable period. If for no other reason than that indicated below, all cases, either before or after assembling, should be thoroughly dried in the sun. “Short” weight could be accounted for to some degree by a lack of observance of this elementary rule, as it is most probable that there would be a perceptible difference in weight of the wooden case in a drier atmosphere.
(a) If rubber is weighed in the box, and the average tare of the case deducted from the gross weight (in order to obtain the nett weight), any loss in the weight of the timber would appear as a deficiency of rubber at the distant port.
(b) Whether the same effect would be produced eventually in the case of rubber which is weighed before packing will depend upon the method of weighing at the warehouse. If the rubber is weighed in the box, any observed deficiency would be attributed to a loss of weight in the rubber.