Anyone know what "Scales" means on an 1877 map?

[philber]

I'm looking at n 1877 map and I see the word Scales next to a black dot on the map. At first I thought it might be a person named Scales and that was their house, but I see the same word Scales shown on several other areas of the map and it never shows a first name, so I am thinking it is something else, but what? The square dot and the word/name "Scales" is shown next to a road or highway, not railroad tracks. The nearest town is not a metropolis, so I cant see the need for a large number of weighing scales to regulate commerce (did they even have weigh scales on roads back then, or is that more a modern thing?) Anyway, anyone know what Scales means ona map? Its from historicmaporks and they dont have any sort of legend with definitions of what various symbols and words mean. Which brings up a new question - anyone know where I can find such a legend for deciphering terms and symbols on old maps (kinda more specific to historicmapworks, since googling such a thing brings up innumerable responses)

Thanks

 

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[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

We all know what a map scale is. So this must be something else. Photo?

 

[Clay Diggins]

If it is an agricultural region it could be cart scales - which were common at the time.

 

[Mackaydon]

During the Canadian gold rush back in the 1890s , the Canadian Mounties required the miners to carry a minimum weight of supplies before they would be permitted to enter certain areas. Scales were used to measure their load.
Don.....

 

[philber]

Ok, I'm kinda leaning toward it is weighing scales, as it is an agricultural area, I just didnt think there would be so many in the same general region, but per the above replies, it looks like it very wel could be weighing scales. Anybody know if money changed hands at these locations? ie did you have to pay to be weighed, or was it local govt mandated and the local govt paid workers to weigh all the carts?

 

[Clay Diggins]

Most were private scales. The hay wagon is a good example. Even in the 1860's farmers would sell futures contracts on their crops - like hay or wheat. The people taking delivery of the crop at harvest had to know how much they were receiving so they would know the final cost or profit. Weigh the cart going in empty then weigh it goig out full and it's easy to keep a tally on what is delivered.

I doubt actual money changed hands often in these situations. Just like today banks issued letters of credit which were paid off with the delivery of the crop. Banking was very local and everybody "ran a tab" with local merchants and each other. The scale might be used to weigh a cart of apples being used to pay off last season's hams traded from another farmer. Barter was big back then..

Money during this time period was silver and some gold coin. Banks mostly were just the most secure place to put your gold and silver coin until you needed it. No paper money, no checks.

 

[nagant]

I worked at a bar that had a scale for farmers. Didn't charge much. Most were deals between people buying and selling feed, grain and cattle

 

[Gare]

NICE going Don Glad your a member here