The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-04-23
THINGS AT WASHINGTON.
From Morrison's Guide.
PATENT OFFICE.

PAVAhNT OttlCbs
This public building is situated on F
street. 1t is two hundred and eighty fee
ia length, and seventy feet in depth.
The basement and first story contain
each one large room for models, seventy
by sixty feet, and eight rooms twenty by
twenty-five.
The upper floor is one entire room, two
hundred and sixty-seven feet by sixty
Two.
The ascent is made 10 the chief floor by
a flight of granite steps that end in a grand
terrace, extending beneath the roof of the
por,ico one hundred feet by thirty two
deep. The p%orlico is composed of sixteen
columns in double rows, and TWO massive
ante rising fifty feet.
The portico is of the same extent as that
of the Parlhenon at Athens.
This building contains curiosities worth
examining. The large room above the
basement was pretty thoroughly filled with
models Of various machines, most of which
have been patented; and whoever desires
a further insight into the principles OF
mechanism may have a rich feast in ex-
aiming these daguerreotypes of the dii,
ferent inventors. Mr. KaOwles, the Ma
chinist employed in the Patent Office
seemed, when | was there, 10 take pleasure
10 giving such information as he could, on
the great variety Of enquiries made by
those interested in new inventions. One
man came there from NorIh Carolina.
with an improved plan for a Straw Gutter;
one from Indlana with an improved plan
of n War Vessel, aud an Improvement. a.
he thought, in the form of making Can,
non Shot. The pan for the Vessel was
to have a sufficient space on each side
filled with water, to prevent the shots,
from the enemy's guns. piercing the inner
breast work ; and 10 have the PORT. holes
furnished with tubes sufficiently large for
the easy play of the guns on board. The
shot were 10 be made, for a "A or so
FOUNDER, some IL inches iong-to retain
heir size nearly one half the length, and
then be brought to a point. At a suitable
place, four hooks were to be attached By
pivots, so hat when the shot should be
clear from the gun, they would spread al
right angles from ,he shot, and the points
being curved and brought near to an edge,
would cut quite a hole in the enemy's wal
vessels. | remarked 10 the applicant for
Letters Patent on these inventions, that |
thought he might do more good to COM
munity by turning his ingenuity into an
other channel. He however, seemed 10
think that if he did not improve on war
implements, some body else would and
although opposed to war, justified himself
on the rum sellers principle
A man, by the name OF Barker, was
there from New York, for the purpose of
securing a Patent on an improvement in
the construction of Water Wheels but
on examining the models in the office con.
not to apply for a patent on his
plan. Another nm, named BarIow, from
Auburn N. Y. brought a model for a
Steam Boiler, with the safety va We so con.
structed, as claimed, that there could be no
possibility of the boilers bursting, and ap.
piled for Letters Patent on the invention.
tle said he had been offered S2O.O 900 for
his Patent, so soon as he should obtain 1t
and Mr. Elliott, one OF the Patent Agents, I
said he could see nothing in the Patent
Office TO prevent securing a Patent on
his. Some who go to Washington on
such business seem TO lose their journeys,
while Others secure a good prize. Many
Inventions are worth nothing to the inven>
ors, nor TO community while others are
If The highest value to both. Consequent.
Y, it seems 10 be rather important to the
nventor that he devote his time and inge-
luity on that which the public will think
worth something; also that he acquaint
himself with what is in the Patent Office
'efore expending a large sum on an inn
which smay have originated
With another man, as well as himself, and
or which a patent may have already been
granted. Mr. SytUsster, chief clerk in The
Patent Office, Informed me that about sew.
n eighths Of the patents granted, were re.
eived by men in the free States. lie al