The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-29
Report OF tho Commlssionsr Patents for the year

Report OF tho com,ss,onsr of Patents for the yes'
ISa6.
PATENT OFFICE, January 1916.
SIR In conformity to the provisions OF the act OF Con
gress relating TO this Office approved March . 1857 h'
undersigned has the honor to submit his annual report
During the year ending December 81, 1916, the whole
number of applications for patents received IS twelve
hundred and seventytwo The whole number OF caveats
filed during the same time is four hundred and ior
The number OF patents issued in 1915 is SIX hundred ant
nineteen including thirteen reissues, hve aaditonai I'm
provements and fty-nine designs; classified and al
phabetica lists of which, with the names OF the paten
tees, are annexed, (marked q and ~
During the period, four hundred and seventy
three patents have expired. list OF which Is annexed
(marked II -
the year two OF which rejected, and one is still
pending Two patents have been extended by Congress
during the same period.
during the year 1916 also annexed, (marked ~
The receipts of the office during the year 1870 ncluo
ing duties and fees paid in on application lot patents
caveats reissues additional Improvements extensions
and for COPIES amount IN the whole, 10 oo'Soi lo' VI
which sum- 81 Os6 30 have been repaid on apPhcauons
withdrawn, and for money paid IN by mistake as PEI
The expenses Of the Office during the year 1916 are as
follows viz: For salaries, Sl642 97 temporary CLERKS
SIS 6s5 81 contingent expenses, including postage and
the fees paid TO counsel two suits in equity recently
pending against the Commissioner IN the United States
district court for the eastern district OF Pennsyvan
bray S675 agriculture statistics $3.50 6S; amount
ing in the whole to the of $337oo A. as per state
ment marked b.
the act OF March g. 1887 for the restoration OF records
and drawings the of $7S6 81. and Tor duplicate
models, the sum OF 1856, as per statement marked =.
The aggregate OF expenditures under the different hea
above enumerated, including money paid back on win
drawas, and for the restoration of records, drawings
and models is s46l5s H. leaving balance TO DC carried
to the credit of the patent fund OF VA ,l03 49,
On the first day OF January lS45 the amount OF money
in the treasury to the credit of the patent fund was
ls2459 90; which, with the balance paid IN during the
year 1916 WILL the first day OF January ls47 amount
Although the balance which the office has been able tc
place to its credit in the treasury during the year JUS
past consequence of the decreased amount received or
applications for patents caveats &c, here being iewe
foreign applications during the last year) and the add
tional amount refunded to applicants on the Withdrawal
OF their claims, not great as that OF the previous
year, yet it is than the average balance OF former
years. and indicates the hourishing condition and pros
poets of the Patent Office.
Thas far the Office has more than sustained ITSELF and
fully realized the antcpatons OF Congress when was
recognized upon its present footing And II conclu-
sion may be drawn from the activity OF the inventive &C.
MUS of our counrymen, as exhibited in past years, we
may rely confidently the belief that this useful and no
BILE institution OF the government will never become
charge upon the treasury.
The reports of the two principal examiners, giving a
very interesting review OF the inventions patented at this
office during the past year, are annexed marked and
El
On reference to Them it will be that the year just
past has not been without its valuable discoveries which,
If they do not surprise and delight the mind with their
novelty and brilancy, will contribute much to the con-
venence and welfare of man. 1t will be seen that almost
every field of invention and discovery has been explored
by our ingenious persevering and interchangeable country
men, and many very valuable Improvements IN machinery,
and processes OF manufacture brought to light all con-
rbutng less to the Improvement and progress OF
society The operations OF this office during the past
prove the circle of every year proves that the invent
the benefactor of his His genius besows
its favors all The manufacturer, the mechanic, the
agrcuurst the merchant, all the recipients OF the
benefits which are ever flowing from his tolls, energies,
and sometimes his great and sublime conceptions. No
theme is interesting Tor contemplation than this and
there is none which deeply mpresses the mind with
of the continued and onward progress OF society
IN the grand career OF civilization
In my last annual report | embraced the occasion to
bring to the notice of Congress the embarrassed condition
OF this office in consequence OF the great increase OF ITS
business, without corresponding increase OF ITS clerical
force, particularly in its scientific department
When the Office recognized IN 1886, the Com
missioner was allowed but a single examiner ny the
18th section of the act of March g. 1897, an additional
examiner authorized TO be appointed; and by the
of March g. 1899, two assistant examiners were pro-
yided for; since which time addition to the examining
corps has been authorized, and none has been made
In s4o the first complete year after the last addition to
plicatons Tor patents received was 765, The number OF
caveats filed 22s and the number of patents granted 475
During the year 1916, the number OF applications for
patents ,272 the number of caveats filed AS, and
the number of patents granted 6ls. During the same
year the number of applications for patents which were
examined ana rejected was 33S.
Thus does it appear that since the last addition to the
examining force in $780, the business OF the office has
increased nearly hundred per cent Ii has increased
beyond the physical ability of the present examiners and
assistants to keep up with it, although constantly and in
dustrously engaged in the performance of their onerous
and atguing dntcs The consequence is, that business
accumulaes upon their desks applicants are delayed IN
having their examined often to their great detr
ment, and always to the injury of the office; which is
complained OF for its delays by persons not knowing the
condition of its business and the inadequacy OF ITS force,
when il is constantly exertng itself to the utmost TO &C
commodate the public, well TO relieve itself from
inconvenience resulting from pressure OF its duties
When it is considered that the Patent Ofce derives ITS
entirely from the investors and sustans itself
without charge upon the treasury, the justice OF their
nen they cannot attach to the Patent Office nor to any
OF its officers The state OF its business fully pre-
scented to Congress in my last report and again IN SUBJ
sequent communication addressed to the chairman OF the
Committee Patents and the Patent Office of the SEN
ate at the last session.
1t is therefore respectfully submitted whether in view
of the fact that its revenues ample for the increased
expenditure, which will, that event. be required is
not expedent for Congress to authorize the addition to
the examining corps which the present state OF the bus
of the Office impeTaivey demands.
By the 18th section of the act OF March 3, 1897, am
authorized to employ all necessary temporary clerks Tor
writing and copying, at compensation OF ten cents Tor
every hundred words This provision enables me to pro-
vide for any exgency in the clerical department OF the
office No addition therefore, is deemed necessary to
thls branch of service in the Office.
In connection with the sabect of increase OF the
scientific force of the Patent Office, would again respect
full suggest the poprey and expedency OF increasing the
salaries of the principal and assistant examiners This
subject was brought to the attention OF Congress by my
predecessor in his last annual report, and its expectancy
and justice portrayed with great force well as earnest
ness Convinced, from my own observation, OF the
justice OF his recommendation, cordially concued with