Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-10-27

.ccPt they impcach Mr. Polk FOR using the Ian
.Gnago he did?
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
The Washington Union contains a long ac-
count OF the Patent Office In that city, i'll
which the erigin and history OF the present
patent system OF the United States are traced
with much1ninuteliesS. Il first received form
iron ana Act passed In 1890, entitled Ian Act
TO. promote the progress Of the useful arts, -
which enactment constituted the Secretaries
OF STATE, Of War, and the Attorney General a
Board To whom application was TO b. made
Tor patents Tor new and useful improvements,
Inc Act OF 1890 continued in force until it
was repealed by an Act passed IN 793.' This
Act, whist 1t retained the general features OF
the system as al first established, made tire Pa
tent Otice an exclusive appendage of the
State ID; partment. In 1900 the right to pat
ents Tor new inventions was secured TO ali
ems who had resided two years in the United
states; and by an Act passed in 1886 it was
extended TO all allens-imposing upon them.
however, lauch heavier fees than were rcduir
ed to be paid by citizens. In that year the
system underwent complete re -organization
1t vas then established as a separate bureau
OF the State Department, with an official head
denominated the COMMISSIONED Of Patents.-
In all It's leading features the systcra continu
cd the same. A new feature, hSwever, of
very great Importance, was, By the act of
1881, engrdited upon il. In every new an
pAcatron Tor letters patent for an alleged in.
ventlon, the Commissioner is required 10 in
vestigate the question whether or not the in
venilon claimed contains new device; and
on The result OF that enquiry depends the issue
OF the patent. IL the invention is found TO
possess no novelty, the patent is, of course.
refused, While adding tenfold TO the labors
of the ofiicc, inasmuch as each case reouires
ii review OF all similar inventions in this and
other countries, and some of them extending
over the widest fields of investigation, this
new provision OF the law has resulted i'm vast
benefit, not only to the inventor, but TO the
community at large. 1t has prevented the
issue OF lnnumerablc patents covering old de-
vices and has consequently rid tie courts Of
justice oil an Immense amount of litigation.
In 1870. and for many years afterwards. a
single clerk performed all the duties of the
State Department touching the issue of pat
ents. Ia 1880, the force oi the Patent Office
consisted OF Il Superintendent and two clerks
IL nov has Commissioner of Patents. chief
clerk, two examiners, two assistants. 4 ma
chlnist, a dIaughtsman. an assistant draughts.
man, Two recording clerks, At clerk of account
Two copying clerks, a messenger. three watch.
men and two aborers. In 1879, (ihe FIRST
year IN which distinct account of its receipts
was kcpt) the revenue Of the office amounted
only 90 the SUM- of So $40 81 For the vpal
ending June 30, 1916, the receipts were siS
~ lj,land the expenditures $50 .1gS O6.-
/ Ine totai amount OF the receipts from 1890 "a
June 30, 1919 is S643,SOJ 81; expenditure,
during the same period $3.50 $50 80. Of which
SlOs.UOO was exprndedonthc construction al
the present Patent Office building. Thus tlrr.
were, on The Both Of juno, 1913. Sl76JIG o.
ia the Treasury Ot the United States 70 th,
credit Oi the "pItcnt iund. With tine excep
7 ton Oi a small sum received Tor copies &c
/ the WloloatDOGut OF the receipts OF tII. Rifcn'
Office, mentioned above. hss been PAID i'm b,
inventors. Tie Patent Office has cost tlc GO
v"rnmcnt nothing except Too tie erection o
/ buildings necessary ior is acComnoda ton
| ltnow paws its way, and returns a surplus OF
several thousands every year t. the patent
fund.
Bssides. being the grea, head Of thc procros
siye arts tb'cain under the administrator
oi ~ late talented COmm,ssioDcr f.. f.. Fills
worth, ESD RE governmental oEal ol tbaI
Greatest and most important Of ali the inter
asts Of the countryside agricultu1al. OF II,
services iii-ihis respect We haze often had oc
casiOn % speak The writer I'M t'i4 iIuio,
suggests that The Office might alse .eiih I;i.
lie expense and addition 10 i.s clerical f,rro
present 70 the country each year view Of IN.
/ pfogr Of manufactures. mines and other i'm