The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-11
MIR. Edmund Burke's Patent Office Report.

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which is always expected with unusual interest by
rous classes of the people of country The Patent
Office being the point where centre the results of progress
and Improvement in the arts devoted to industry and
from whence are to look for information on these
TOPICS the history of its operations each successive year
must obviously gain increasing attention Especially
has this been the since the agricultural report
has been included within its subjects of investigation
So large class of population belong to those who
less Immediately engaged in agricultural pur-
suits, that this portion of the report must always find
hearty welcome. 1t is sufficient evidence of its pop
| uarity that no document emanating from any other
branch OF the government any shape presented to
Congress, has been honored with the call for
many copies to be printed. This demand has been in
duced and fully justified, by the applications
of constituents to their representatives in consequence of
the vast amount of information already derived from pre-
vious reports of the Patent Office
| The present report is advance the former
ones texhibs increased research, more discriminating
selection omaterals and greater condensation The topics
embraced in it Of deep and commanding interest 1t is
indeed, compact summary of facts--a sort of Revue
EncyiopddiQue of the various branches of which it
treats The and beautiful plates by which
of the subjects illustrated also add to the value
of the report 1t is neatly bound (and letered, too)
cambria covers, having stamped view of the Patent
Office and a sheaf of wheat upon the volume, which
gives ii very great superiority the former half
stitched documents, that would almost break apart
| first opening them.
We have not time TO enter upon examination of its
contents but the index occupying than three
closely printed pages promises rich sorehouse of nfo
nation, which will doubtless furnish the public journals
generally with many extract. The tables of various
kinds have evidently cost much labor, and the
right kind OF statistics be sent forth by Congress pre-
senng they do, theories but simple estimates and
statements, sufficiently drawn out in detail, and indica-
ting the in which they have been prepared, and
the which reliance has been placed The pa
per "AppendiX No 19'-in which the Commissioner of
Patents has concisey given the relative bearings OF the
production and consumption of the breadsuffs, the
excess remaining for export and the foreign coun-
tries with which our country compete, or where
it may find markets, together with the value OF the
various species of property in the United States
is one which is exceedingly valuable, and does great
credit to the honorable Commissioner The advocates Of
different theories will find in it various data which
they will reason as their bias may lead them; but Mr.
Burke though we'll known as Individually earnest
and open supporter of his own political opinions, has
most carefully avoided-however he may seem to have
been tempted while engaged in his favorte researches
any auson or ntimaton respecting the conclusions he
would have drawn from these statistics in behalf of his
| own views.
This feature of the report will be, it scarcely be
doubted most acceptable to all parties; and it is
highly commendabe in public document, which is des
tined to such an extensive circulation, not only in this
country but also in Europe. Since have named Eu-
rope we will take occasion say further, that this
port must have considerable influence abroad. The for
mer reports of the Commissioner of Patents both of the
late and present head of that bureau have been well
ceived and quoted in England, France and Germany
and are evidently regarded entitled to no little weight
among foreigners as exhibits OF the of
eyer-growing country We confident that the present
one will be still more successful in this respects and we
are glad such documents prepared may aid to
enighen even the statesmen of Europe too ignorant as
they are OF the increasing means at the command OF this
nation TO meet their want OF our breadstufts and other
agricultural products 1t cannot be supposed that Con-
gress will neglect to provide suitable appropriation for
the continuance of these reports; the experiment OF its
disconnuance made in 1916 having been unpopular
among the farmers of our country. We WISH however,
that the plan could be yet more extended and cannot but
hope that the Joint resolution of Mr. Underwood in the
Senate to that effec-equrng the Commissioner OF Pat
| ens to collect statistics on agriculture, manufactures,
&c-wl be passed. and that the Commissioner the next
year will give us still more valuable summary OF our
resources than even this which is highly creditable TO
himself and the office over which he presldes.
ny X. ". DYER, .9mcfdonesr.