Cross posted the query regarding the occupation of 'Wood Inspector' and got
this reply from the NJ_Hist listserv.
Perhaps more than you wanted to know, but you never know when the question
might be asked on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?'
-Heidi
--------------------------------
From my copy of the _Laws and Ordinances made and established by the
Mayor, Alderman & Commonality of the City of New York, in Common Council
Convened, AD 1833-1834._ (New York: Peter Van Pelt. 1834)
Chapter XX, p. 154:
PP 5. "There shall shall, from time to time, be appointed in the
respective Inspection Districts hereinafter established, such persons as
the COmmon Council shall think proper, to inspect the loading of all
Firewood which shall be brought to this city for sale. The inspectors
shall be duly sworn to execute their offices with fidelity and
impartiality; their respective judgements shall be conclusive: and they
shall have for their trouble for each load by them inspected, three
cents, to be paid by the seller of the wood."
PP6. "It shall be the duty of each of the said Inspectors to keep a
book, in which he shall make an entry of each load of wood by him
inspected; and once in every month, make and render a full account and
return of teh number of loads of wood so inspected by him, to the office
of the City Inspector, in order that the quantity of firewood brought
into, and sold in this city, may be ascertained. And it shall be the
duty of the said Inspectors to report to the Mayor, all violations of
this ordinance by every cartman; and to the Attorney of the Corporation,
all violations of it by every other person. And if any such Inspector
shall neglect to do so, he shall forfeit his office."
What were the regulations regarding wood: PP 1. p. 153 No firewood could
be brought into the city for sale or landed on the docks until it had
been sold, and then it had to be landed and taken away immediately.
Penalty of one dollar for every load landed before it was sold, or not
taken away when sold.
Regulations for selling firewood: PP 2, p. 153. The stanchions of each
cart or sled used to carry wood shall be 5'4" high from the floor of the
cart or sled and no higher, the breadth of the cart or sled between the
two foremost stachions shall be 2'5" and between the hindmost stanchions
2'9" and no more; in which space between the said stanchions, every
cartman who shall cart any wood, shall stow as much, and as close
together as it can conveniently be put, or as much of it as will amount
to thirty seven feet ten inches and two thirds of an inch cubic measure,
which shall constitute, and be deemed by the Inspectors a load and may
be bought and sold accordingly.
PP. 3 (p.153) "No person or persons shall buy or sell any Firewood
contrary to the above regulations; and no cartman shall cart any
Firewood brought into this city for sale, except in carts and sleds made
and constructed as by law is directed, and loaded as above mentioned,
under the penalty of five dollars for each offence."
PP. 4 (p153-154) "No crroked wood shall be stowed in any cart or sled
constructed in manner aforesaid, with other wood, but the same may be
sold or disposed of as refuse wood, not subject to the above
regulations; and if any cartman, who shall cart Firewood, shall put or
suffer to be put into his cart, any such crooked wood as will prevent
his cart from containing a full load between the stanchions thereof, he
shall, for every load so carted, forfeit the sum of one dollar."
pp. 8 (p.156) The carts have to have their registration number painted
on them and be furnished with appropriate stanchions. An Inspector who
inspects wood for any cartman whose cart does not meet the above will be
fined five dollars for each offense.
There is another Inspector whose job it was to inspect cord wood:
same chapter, pp. 13, p. 156-157
"All Firewood, when sold in this city by the cord, shall be inspected by
the Wood Inspector in whose district the same may be landed. A cord
shall contain one hundred and twenty-eight cubic feet, and the Inspector
who shall inspect any such wood sold as aforesaid, shall be entitled to
six cents for eachand every cord so insepcted, to be paid by the seller
of ther wood."
Hope that helps.
Scott
--
Scott D. Peters
Historically Speaking
ALHFAM - FPIPN vice chair for miscellany, trivia and errata
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