Towns > Edinburgh > 1805-1834 - Post Office annual directory > 1832-1833

49 Baihvay Company.
WtiinMxt^i) autr lialfeeitS l^atlixiai)*
The Great Depot, which is entered from St Leonard's Street,
Qow contains Sir John Hope's Newcraigliall Coal, the Mar-
juis of Lothian's Coal, the Arniston Coal, and the Edmon-
stone Jewel Coal, which is the same as the Sheriff-hall Jewel
Coal ; so that all the hest kinds of Coal in the couiitj', and in
the country, are to be had there. The Coal of the Railway
Depot is also carefully selected and freed from the coa .er
parts before leaving the Collieries.
There are twelve Coal Merchants who hold ofBces from
the Railway Company, and who have been selected with a
due regard to respectability of character. They have, how-
ever, no coal-yards attached to their offices, so that they
have not the power, though they had the desire, to mix
and adulterate the Coal.
The Company's Weighing Establishment consists of a
Chief Weigher, an Assistant Weigher, and a Constable.
The first signs all the Certificates of weight ; his Certifi-
cate also attests that the Coal is of the kind that it is stated
to be in the Coal Merchant's account or invoice. For, in
the Railway Depot, the Coal is all taken, as it is ordered,
directly from the Store Yards of the Coal Proprietors,
whose interest it is that their Coal should be sold in a pure
state, and maintain a good repute. Hence, it is easy for the
Weighers to know one kind of Coal from anothei'. The
Assistant Weigher and the Constable watch the carters, to
see that no coals are plundered in the narrow streets, and
to see that quantities less than a ton are not sold for more
than they weigh. Many of the inhabitants can already bear
testimony to the efficiency of this preventive establishment,
though few are willing to prosecute the dealers whose
frauds have been exposed to them.
Consumers of Coals should attend to the following di-
rections ; they have been published in all the papers, yet
very many, especially housekeepers and servants, are paying
no attention to them : —
\st. Never receive a cart of Coals without the Weigher's
certificate; his name is ROBERT GIBB, and if he should
be changed, notice shall be given by advertisement.
2«%, Attend to the hour marked in the certificate, and if
more than an hour after that has elapsed before the Coals
are delivered, reject them, for the carter may have been dis-
posing of a part of his load.
Sdly, Always keep or destroy the Weigher's certificate,
for if it remain with the carter, he may use it on the same
day a second time to pass another cart of Coals of inferior
weight or qualitj'.
ithli/, Any Person receiving a Cart of Railway Coal
may assure himself of its weight and quality, by calling at
the Depot, and examining the entry in the Weigher's
book.
Those who are not acquainted with any Coal Merchant
of the Railway Depot, may address orders for Coal to the
Railway Office, and they shall be handed to respectable
agents for execution.
Railway Office, ist Maij, 1832.