What does "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

 

[Odanscoils]

Hopefully this helps.

Scale (map) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

https://study.com/learn/lesson/map-scale-purpose-examples.html

 

[Philber]

Ahh, I see what you are saying, but my question is different from that. The word "scales" is shown next to a black square, which often denotes a house or business at that location. The word scales is shown in multiple locations on this map I am working with and it does not seem to be a last name of the property owner. And I cant see there being (weighing scales) all over this area, so I am trying to figure out what "scale" means on this map, or if anyone has seen this before?

 

[Odanscoils]

Ahh, I see what you are saying, but my question is different from that. The word "scales" is shown next to a black square, which often denotes a house or business at that location. The word scales is shown in multiple locations on this map I am working with and it does not seem to be a last name of the property owner. And I cant see there being (weighing scales) all over this area, so I am trying to figure out what "scale" means on this map, or if anyone has seen this before?

Can you show a picture ?

 

[Philber]

I think I have an answer from another site. The map area covers a rural area that had a fair amount of farming going on, so they might be hay scales. They are spread out throughout the reion and are located next to roads, so weighing scales could be likely

 

[Monkeys Uncle]

My guess..."rural/agricultural" regions, especially crops like cotton, grain, hay, etc. would provide a higher frequency of weigh stations (scales) than ranch (cattle, sheep, swine, etc.) area.