按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
uses； which all recording officers shall be required
to use。
〃I believe that the recording officers will be
glad to have the question of permanent inks decided
for them； and to know whether inks which
were in use many years ago； and have stood the
test thus far； are maintained at their old standard。
In the face of sharp competition among manufacturers；
they fear they are not。〃
Mr。 Swan； proceeding still further； secured the
services of two of the most distinguished professors
of chemistry in this country； Messrs。 Markoe and
Baird； and submitted to them in camera sixty…seven
samples of different inks； known only by numbers； for
chemical analysis； in a long and exhaustive report on
the work they had set out to accomplish； and also with
a dissertation on the chemistry of inks in general； they
complete their report as follows：
〃As a conclusion； since the great mass of inks
on the market are not suitable for records； because
of their lack of body and because of the quantity
of unstable color which they contain； and because
the few whose coloring matters are not objectionable
are deficient in galls and iron； or both； we
would strongly recommend that the State set its
own standard for the composition of inks to be
used in its offices and for its records； have the
inks manufactured according to specifications sent
out； and receive the manufactured products subject
to chemical assay。 In this way only can there
be a uniformity in the inks used for the records
throughout the State； and in no other way can a
proper standard be maintained。〃
Mr。 Swan comments on the report of his chemists；
and calls attention to other tests made by himself：
〃The conclusions at which I arrived were drawn；
as stated； from manufacturers or recording officers；
wholly independently of the chemists； but they will
be found to coincide in many particulars with theirs。
I did consult them in regard to the practicability of
maintaining a State standard for record ink； which
they have approved。
〃The commendation by the chemists of some of
the so…called writing fluids explains in a degree the
variety of opinions advanced by the manufacturers
in regard to the durability of fluids。 Some of
them will be seen to possess the qualities of ink；
and the name fluid is evidently given to meet the
commercial demand for fluids。
〃Several persons； manufacturers among them；
expressed greater confidence in tests of exposure
of inks to the light and weather than to chemical
analysis。 I； therefore； as a dry test； placed on the
inside of a window pane receiving a strong light；
writing made under exactly the same conditions
with each of sixty…seven inks； which remained
there from March 13 to December 8。 Similar
writing was exposed to light and the weather from
September 25 to December 8； and the result of the
resistance of the inks in both tests is an almost exact
confirmation of the report of the chemists；
inks of the same class varying in their resistance
according to their specific gravity or amount of
added color。
〃It may be safely said； therefore； that of sixty…
seven inks of which I procured samples； all but
seventeen are unsuitable for records； and among
these the chemists say but one is fully up to the
established scientific standard of quantity of iron
sulphate。 The reason is plain；the demand for
commercial inks is large； for record； small； and the
supply has been to meet the demand。〃
The British government advertises for tenders each
year； the requirements for black writing ink in 1889
reads：
〃To be made of Best Galls； Sulphate of Iron；
and Gum。 The Sulphate of Iron not to exceed in
quantity one…third of the weight of the Galls used；
and the specific gravity of the matured Ink not to
exceed 1045 degrees （distilled water being 1000 degrees）。〃
That of Black Copying Ink 〃To be made of the above
materials； but of a strength one fourth greater
than the Writing Ink； and with the addition of
Sugar or Glycerine。 The specific gravity of the
matured Ink not。 to exceed 1085 degrees。〃 And that of
Blue…Black Writing Ink 〃To be made of finest
Galls； Sulphate of Iron； Gum； Indigo； and Sulphuric
Acid。 The specific gravity of the Ink when
matured not to exceed 1035 degrees。〃
Mr。 Swan again remarks in his report of 1892：
〃Many of the inks which should not be used
upon records are free flowing and more agreeable
to use than permanent inks； containing more body。
As long as recording and copying is paid for by
the page； and the object is to accomplish the most
in the least time； these inks will be in popular use；
and used； and blotted off the paper before they
have much more than colored it； only to disappear
eventually。 The State should set a standard for a
record ink； and； while our present system of keeping
records and furnishing supplies will not allow
that its use be required on all public records； as in
England； it would seem practicable for the secretary
of the Commonwealth to advertise for proposals
for inks of a certain standard； which the
manufacturers should be bound to maintain； and
that these should be used in all the State offices。
With a State standard ink adopted； its use by
recording officers would soon follow。〃
In 1894 Mr。 Swan's indefatigable efforts were
crowned with success； the state of Massachusetts
adopting his recommendations included in the following
act：
〃SECTION 1。 No person having the care or custody
of any book of record or registry in any of
the departments or offices of the Commonwealth
shall use or allow to be used upon such books any
ink excepting such as is furnished by the secretary
of the Commonwealth。
〃SECTION 2。 The secretary of the Commonwealth
shall from time to time advertise for proposals
to furnish the several departments and offices
of the Commonwealth in which books of record or
registry are kept with ink of a standard and upon
conditions to be established by the secretary at
such periods and in such quantities as may be required；
and may contract for the same。
〃SECTION 3。 The ink so furnished shall be examined
from time to time by a chemist to be
designated by the secretary of the Commonwealth；
and if at any time said ink shall be found to be
inferior to the established standard the secretary
shall have authority to cancel any contract made
for furnishing said ink； and the quantity so found
inferior shall not be paid for。〃
Professor Markoe； referred to before； was appointed
〃chemist〃 by the Secretary of the Commonwealth
and prepared what he considered the best formula； for
a standard ink； which was competed for by a number
of ink manufacturers after proper advertisement； and
a contract awarded。 Mr。 Swan says that this departure
was received with favor by recording officers。
No change was made in the formula until after the
death of Professor Markoe in 1900； when Dr。 Be