The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-03-11
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1916
Important Report Of Mr.. Burke, of the Patent
Office

WASHINGTON, Marcn b, Icio
Important Report Of Mr. Burke, of the Patent
Office.
la letter recently addressed to the Herald, il
was stated that the Report of the Commissioner of
Patents had been presented to Congress. It was
also said that this report was probably the most i'm.
portant and practically useful of any from the De-
partments Of the Government and, as some time
must secessarlly elapse before it can be printed
and circulated among the people, it is proposed to
give brief synopsis Of its contents for the benefit
of your readers and particularly such as may be in
any manner interested in the prosperity and ad-
vancement OF the useful as well as the fine arts In
this, all the readers of the Herald must be more or
less interested. The report of Mr.. Burke, together
with the accompanying documents, will form vo-
lume of some six hundred pages, and a more useful
book tor every body cannot be found. We learn
that TIC whole number Of applications for patents,
caveats filed 452 The number OF patents issued In
1S45 ls SOP, including reissues, additional improve
ments and designs. Patents that have expired du-
ring same period IL 40.
The receipts 81 the office amount 10 So, O76 IA;
of which sum, 50 223 50 have been repaid on &C
count Of applications Withdrawn, NC. The ex-
penses Of the Office have been, for salaries for tenn
OF District Judge. library, agricultural statistics &C.
IN oI, S3l,l72 ~ leaving nett balance OF $ll,-
$50 - 70 oe credited to the Patent Fund Some
$1,000 have also been exp nded for the restoration
OF drawings, models, records, &c.
The whole number Of patents issued by the U. 8.
for Inventions, up to January, 1916, Is ii, $50.
The general business of the Office, as well its
receipts, during the past year, has greatly increased
ment Of il must be interesting as it furnishes album
dant proof that the march OF improvement in the
sciences and arts in this country continues to be ra
p,dly onward.
The Register Of the Treasury reports, on the Let
January, 1886 balance Of SlS2 40 50 to the credit
oil the Patent Fund.
Appended to Mr. Burke's report are the reports Of
the Examiner, which, while they furnish yer favor
able proofs OF the talents and industry OF these
full officers, also show that the past year has not
been barren Of valuable and important inventions
and improvements, and that the inventive genius OF
our coLntrymen has suffered no abatement in the
intensity Of ts activity the value and utility Of
ITS products. Professor Morse also contributes a
useful account Of the different magnetic telgraphs
now In operation in Europe. MIR. Burke adds with
pleasure that the brilliant invention Of Professor
Morse, by means Of which thought 10 conveyed with
lghtnng-iike rapdty, stands still preemlnent over
ali others Of similar character now in use in Eu-
rope. In consequence Of the increase in the bust
oeS ,hsI abs badnS sha = n,b ned
according to the original design, but an increase
also ot the examining and clerical force.
Under the 7th stcton OF the act OF March 3, 1889,
lthas been held by the Patent Office that the sale or
prior use OF machine within two years from the
dae OF It's invention, was proof OF the abandon
nsnt OF the invention to the public And by such
construction, both the Office and inventors have, un-
nj recently, been guided. But lately some of the
judicial tribunals have been disposed to take diff
lerent view Of the law, and one which will greatly
cripple the Efforts and in many instances the means
Of inventors, An invention does not Gas Minerva
did tom the brain OF Jove) spring from the brain Of
tne inventor, Iericct In form and action. On the
contrary, 1t often requires years Of thought and
study, numerous and varied experiments, to bring it