Handbook for translators of Spanish historical ... - University Library

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The mark of Cologne was used in weighing metals in mints;
and the mark of Troyes was used in weighing all other matter.
These and other measures had little effect in establishing
a uniform system. Several years later, in 1436,
John II issued another decree in an attempt at unification;
and, in regard to the existing differences in weights
and measures, he stated: "...in one and the same place
they have one measure for purchases and one for sales."
The confusion with respect to weights and measures was
carried from the mother country to the colonies. On
December 1, 1573 and on December 3, 1581, Philip II stated:
Inasmuch as it has been observed that the conquerors
and settlers of the Indies, in all the territory they
conquer and settle, establish arbitrary weights and
measures, and since many lawsuits develop out of the
different values assigned them, and as it is deemed
advisable for everyone to trade and carry on commerce
with just and standard weights and measures ,... .we
hereby order and command the use of Toledo weights
and the Castilian .'*
vara. .
On October 20, 1801, Charles IV established a \iniform
system for the Spanish Empire.^ By this system, Castilian
weights and measures v^re officially to be used
throughout the overseas possessions of Spain. In actual
practice, however, they were not uniformly used.^ The use
of varying lengths for the vara was due perhaps to the
fact that each province in Spain had its own length for
it, although the Castilian vara was used by several other
provinces as well as their own.
The problem was further complicated by the fact that
Juan Alvarez, op. cit., p. 13b.
Recopilacion de Indias ,
^Nov . Recop. , Book
Book
IV, Title 12, Law 22.
IX, Title IX, Law V.
IDireccion General del Instituto Geografico y Estadfstico,
Equivalenc las entre las Pesas y Medidas Usadas Antiguamente
en las Diversas Provincias de Espana ^ las Legales
del Sistema Metrico- Decimal Madrid (imp rent a de la Direccion
General del Instituto Geograf ico y Estadfstico)
1886. -69-