The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-07

OF new Inventions ever the Woro-to tne new uis-
coveries in arts and Sciences and contained recon-
mendaons for their encouragement and develop
ment and for the reward of the inventive genius OF
the U. States, and pointed out some plan whereby
the present oppression under which patentees labor,
might be removed or aeviated But what was
surprise, TO find, instead OF being report on the
subjects obviously indicated by its ttle that II
was boated and visionary report on agricultural
projects entertained by the Commissioner ana
others, equally as wild as himself, and related 10
mud cottages on farms, to prairie bitches ana
ploughing-to cotton, tobacco, buck wheat flour,
and to sugar from corn stalks, and laudatons OF
hogs lard in opposition TO whale oil; and indicat-
ing change of employment Of sailors from the pur-
suit of whales to the pursuit OF hogs, regardless OF
mercantile or naval marine. and as usual, concludes
with the usual quantum OF antl-free trade recon-
mendations.
The truth is, the commissioner has long been in
terested in farms and lands in Indiana, the value OF
which he is very anxious to improve, and hence the
patronage OF the patent office is 80 extensively d.
verted to such objects.
The commissioner is lawyer by early profes-
sion, and it is well known lawyers are well quai
fed for all Offices where the salary is an object OF
sufficient Importance, he OF course feels deep In
teresf in the numerous mechanical, chemical and
philosophical inventions of the country Under his
management, the 1896 900 paid into the patent office
by several thousand poor inventors, has been mea-
suraby diverted from fund to promote useful in
ventions, to the support OF kind of speculative, ex
perlmental, agricultural bureau"
BY his report, we find the gross receipts amount
ed to $50, 900, large portion of which has been d
rected 10 agricultural and other purposes, say about
So leaving still surplus fund OF some 600
The legitimate business OF recording patents and
caveats, including all the pay of officers and other
expenses of the Office, require but small portions;
say less than one half the gross receipts
Now, this whole system is wrong and unjust We
all know the Patent Office was founded simply to
protect the rights or titles OF inventors or patentees,
a most important and valuable class of people in all
ages and in all countries the steam engine, the
of other useful inventions fully attest The labors
of Arkwright, an obscure barber, and of Watt, a
humble mechanic, have conferred more power and
wealth on G Britain and the civilized word, than can
Fulton, of the United States, have conferred
debt of gratitude greater than this country
kind at large or generations yet to come, can ever
pay off BY the aid of useful inventions, the power,
civilization and wealth OF nations have been vastly
increased. And it frequently occurs that the most
valuable discoveries originate, in many instances
with persons in poor and in humble life
It s the poor inventor, struggling with Indulgence
and difficulties, that should be encouraged and sus
tanned by his government, and not oppressed by its
absurd laws, or the still more absurd execution of
them.
Ii is shown by the Commissioners Report, that the
expenses of the Office can be met by less than
half of its receipts, or by about $4,000 Then let
Congress at once reduce the price of patents from
$50 to $l5. And if an agricultural Bureau is
thought nscessaTy let one be organized distinct
If poor inventor merely wishes to record a no.
tice Cor caveaD of his invention in the Patent Office
which occupies clerk about five or ten minutes, be
tyrannica England, the same fee is ONE guinea, or
only SIS. It is true, England charges flOO for re-
cordng an inventors title, and so much the more to
her disgrace.
In short the only legitimate function of the Patent
Office should be kind of court, in which inventors
may have the privilege of having the titles TO their
property recorded. Their inventions and dscove-
ries are as much their property as piece of land in
in order to get notice of his purchase registered
by the clerk of county court, had to pay $780, and
to get his conveyance or deed recorded, he had to
exacied from him, it should be avished to support
another interest or business of his fellow citizens,
foreign to his own pursuits, would not the exacton
be considered unjust and oppressive?
In civilized government, we would suppose 1t
might not be deemed unreasonable to encourage
inventors by direct and suitable bounties tor their
successful discoveries and improvements. But the
poor inventors do not ask this. They merely desire
and recorded without being taxed 1886 900 per an
mum to support the extravagant management OF an
Office and for the benefit of another class of their
fellow citizens, and to sustain their visionary pro-
jects in agricultural pursuts-to test whether hogs
should supplant whales-or corn stalks the sugar
cane-or mud houses those of ordinary materials
the best method Of raising the value OF western
prairie lands, In which the Hon. Commissioner is 50
Reform is wanted in this office, and the sooner it
is had the better.
Hundreds of useful inventions are probably lost
to the country and to mankind, by the exorbltant
fees required to enroll patent at Washington.
Many poor inventors spend their last shilling in
endeavoring to perfect their inventions or improve
ments, and have no money left TO pay for having
their title recorded. And as they are generally ex-
tremely timid and jealous of their rights, they are
afraid TO apply to capitalist for aid. In the first
place, they apt to be spurned visionary fools,
and in the second place, if their invention is really
valuable, they are liable to be cheated out of it. In
consequence of such fears, and hoping their own
circumstances may improve so as TO place them In
means to procure patent to their own inventions,
they very often die, and their discoveries die with
them, and are lost to the world. In this way many
important inventions have been long delayed, while
others have been probably lost forever to mankind
No, if Congress acts wisely, they will open, as
wide as possible, the doors Of the Patent Office, to
this deserving, but now oppressed and unjustly ne
elected class Of their fellow citizens.
A FRIEND TO THE RIGHTS OF INVENTORS.
STEAM SHIP GREAT WESTERN She is not yet In