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Gnatzig Carriage House

 

1902

05 08       ED GNATZIG, PROPRIETOR OF THE NEW CARRIAGE HOUSE, 5TH STREET,

SAYS TO PROSPECTIVE BUYERS OF CARRIAGES AND WAGONS:

 

We have just completed unloading and putting into our repositories the largest and most complete line of high-grade vehicles.  The new 1902 Break seat runabouts.  Stanhopes, driving wagons, heavy and light top buggies and surries, trimmed and finished up in the latest patterns, with steel or Goodyear rubber tire, built by the Racine Wagon and Carriage Co., the largest manufacturers in the world of high-grade vehicles. This is our first shipment, so that we have no old style or shop-worn goods - all new and fresh from the factory.

 

And as we want to get started in business here, we have made the price on them to meet the price you have been used to paying for ordinary cheap goods, so that if you are a prospective buyer of any kind of vehicle it will well pay you to come and at least give us a chance before buying, as we have twenty different styles of vehicles to show you, and are sure to satisfy you and save you some money. 

 

Come while the line is complete and get your first choice.  If we cannot sell you a new rig let us repair your old one, as we have the most complete repair shop in the city.  And we are still building the best and easiest-running milk wagon on wheels.

 

Also all kinds of special delivery wagons out of the best timber and bone-dry at Ed. Gnatzig's, 107 to 115 5th Street, Zautner's old stand [Reinhold Zautner, blacksmith, 111 5th, res. 107 5th], where first-class repairing and horseshoeing is done by practical mechanics.  All work warranted.

 

Edward Gnatzig

1913, 111 Main, grocer

 

1912

05 30       SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES REPORT

 

That an excellent selection has been made in the appointment of Edward Gnatzig for sealer of weights and measures of this city is very evident from the good work he is doing.  He has already earned his salary ten times over to the people of Watertown.  Read his report following:

 

Up to this day I have visited 135 places in the city and found 522 liquid measures.

 

Tested out 431 on my visit and found 204 that complied with my standards, which I sealed.  Of these 204 only 4 were oil measures.  I tested and condemned 227.  Of these 200 were one gallon and one-half gallon oil measures, and averaged eight ounces to the gallon short.  The balance of ninety-one measures inspected and confiscated were in bad shape.  Rusty, broken, dented and dirty and so much against the law to be confiscated on sight.

 

I also found one of the old pails used by the Standard Oil Company in the city, up to a short time ago, which should measure 5 gallons, one quart and three ounces short.  This pail with others of the same kind have been used here for a long time to fill the dealers cans.  And Mr. Burke tells me he sells 90,000 gallons a year in Watertown.  One-half pint in each gallon at the rate 90,000 per year ought to satisfy John D., as they were old measures and in use for many years. 

 

It seems our merchants never made any attempt to make the right measures.  The standard of 231 cubic inches to the liquid gallon was established in 1836, so they have no excuse.  Then the Pennsylvania and minor companies together put in here another 90,000 gallons, they tell me.  The bulk of which was sold to the public with short measure – one half pint to the gallon.  The loss to the public of Watertown and vicinity on oil alone the past ten years would capitalize and run a good bank.

 

Even the saloon keeper, poor fellow, got his.  Some outside wholesaler sold them whiskey in barrels and made presents of fine copper one-half gallon measures to measure it out with.  I find all of these fine copper measures four ounces short and have good reason to believe that the whiskey was short measured in the barrel when sold.

 

I suspect some trouble with the scales, as there are a lot of them, old and not accurate on the first pound as to ounces, which I think the most important, as all high priced spices, teas, etc, are sold by the ounce.  I will insist that all counter scales shall be absolutely correct before I seal them.

 

I have not had the time to get to the milk bottles, but from what I have seen some of the milk looks pretty blue to me.  Could tell better if I tested it to find if it all came from the cow.  After this rainy weather is over — that may make a change.

 

I am having some trouble to make dealers understand that after my first visit they cannot use a new measure until I am notified, but on the whole find them willing to comply with the law . I want them all to cooperate with me, to go after the fellow higher up, as in most cases they are the ones to blame for shortage, and I want to protect the dealer as well as the customer, and I am of the opinion that when I get the right measures and accurate scales in and dealers use them right the advertising Watertown will get as a full weight and measure town will be an asset to look up to, and will draw trade and inhabitants as much as any thing we can do for the city.

 

Edward Gnatzig, Sealer of Weights and Measures.        WG

 

1914

02 05       POORLY PAID

It will be noted that the city sealer's salary, that of Edward Gnatzig, has been left at $720, one of the poorest paid active officers in the city.  Mr. Gnatzig is one of the most competent officials in his line in Wisconsin and during the past year has saved our citizens thousands of dollars.  Instead of one of the poorest paid offices in the city, it should be the highest paid.  WG

 

1915

03 04       A SPLENDID APPOINTMENT

Edward Gnatzig has been appointed by the Director of the Census special agent for this district in Jefferson county to collect data on all kinds of manufacturing.  His compensation will be from $3.00 to $4.50 a day, with expenses.  The appointment gives general satisfaction here as all know Mr. Gnatzig to be a very competent man for the place, besides being one of our very best citizens.  He was endorsed for the position by Congressman M. E. Burke and Joseph E. Davies.    WG

 

 

 

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