The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-07

PATENT OFFICE. Nov 3, ls4s.
SIR: notice in the Union OF yesterday communica
ton upon the subject of ieegaPhs IN when you 40 m
manifest injustice though trust this was not your In
tention You complain OF my not "condescendihg h
answer" letter you addressed to me some years age
with view 10 obtain my opinion as to The merits OF
your invention and also make some unavorable infer
hererom You may readily conceive mat one ID
my situation would be likely to receive more communica
tons than could be well answered IN addition to laoo-
Gus official correspondence Upon reflection, think you
must that would not be proper ior an examiner III
the Patent Office TO venture opinions Piori upon inyen
tons that may before hun for Official investigation
receive great many letters of inquiry similar to yours,
seldom read them atenvely, and find II troublesome
even to acknowledge their reception Lately have
adopted the plan of sending to the writers the accompany
ing circular explaining the rules OF the Patent ONCE and
which will show my position in such matters
| remember having received a letter IRON some person
long time SINCE upon the subject OF electro chemical
elegraphs but what became OF H. or whether did or did
not acknowledge it, cannot now say Ii your letter could
have been used IN evidence before the ONCE on n'ereT
ing applications ii would have been carefully preserved
But the rules of the Patent Office do not admit such pa
pers entitled to notice on interfering applications; and
OF the hundreds OF such letters, and even formal protests
against the grant OF patents annually received at the
Office notice is taken except perhaps to acknowledge
them and inclose the circular which | have sent to
you This course is absolutely necessary and equitable
and leaves to every one the full right and opportunity
TO assert his claims before the office, upon taking
the necessary measures TO secure patent As lover
OF science, no one can be more ready ana gaied man
myself credit for discovery and invention placed
where it Justly belongs and have no doubt that the
merit of priority will be given you whenever you
furnish satisfactory testimony to prove IT. I'LL hsa
patiently abide the verdict OF men OF science and public
opinion, which in the course of time is usually right in
such cases must consider you very hasty in charging
'fou play" and in your nsnuaons against me person
ally and officially, before ascertanlng the facts and com
pairing notes with the persons who may contest this
honor with you and trust, with this explanation, you
will be ready to make me suitable reparaton.
Very respectfully yours, CHAS Z. PAGE
JUNIus L. CLEMMoNs, esq, lexington Davidson Co, N C.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Washington, -----, lS4
In consequence of the applications this Office
for inform aton founded brief descriptions of Inventions
Thing like the described. and whether patent
be had therefor it has become necessary to furnish the
By the act Of July 1886 entitled IAN act to promote the
useful and to repeal all acts and parts Of acts hereto
engrsed upon the system under which patents had been
previously granted
Under the provisions of this act it made the duty OF
the Commissioner OF Patents, the receipt OF any app
cation for patent to institute ian examination OF the al
legged invention or discovery" with view to deter
mine whether the had been before invented or dis
covered by other person in this county, or patented
e eI ds the OF e
stiiced such inventions or discoveries as were "eu
in the most absolute of the term; and very abor
and responsible duty imposed on this Office In aid OF
the solution OF the question OF novelty thus raised on every
application, the applicant required to furnish full
and clear description OF his nveniion, signed witnessed,
and verified by his OATH by model and draw
ngsof the same all being deemed necessary m order to
illustrate his claim to patent Furnished with these Illus
tratons the Office then required to into rigorous
and extended examination, taking in the whole range OF
history the given subject whether its evidences were to
be found patents granted caveats fled descriptions
published in this any foreign country in any period OF
time.
In the conduct OF these examinations it is necessary
keep and laborious employment number OF
persons specially selected for their knowledge and skill in
the refer with guarded to caveats MED In the
secret archives Office and which only into
such occasions patents already granted and 10
such works the have been published here else
where and also keep pace with the current Of invention
throughout the world by constant and eopous supply OF
such publications this country and In Europe as are de-
voted to this object.
1t will readily be seen this office undertake
70 respond the inquiries constantly addressed
to IT, whether such invention be new, and
whether a patent be obtained for it. Because, l.,
Every such inquiry involves the ohofe question OF "opey
and before the office could express even forn an oPin
ion, would require the range OF rigorous examination
rs is required by law regular application Tor a
patent and This, without the necessary illustrations
such inquiries being based and usually i'm
general descriptions whlle IN the case oil appca
Tor patents the law requires that the Office shall have
the aid only OF clear and full description under OATH
but drawings and models before shall de-
eide the question whether, in given CASE the inven
ton be 1tU, NC.
3D. The attempt do would eiectually interrupt the
nent rights Of those who apply for paien as the
regular of their applications must necessarily
be suspended while the examinations required IN order 10
frame such answers, were being made
3D. Every such inquiry does effect require this Office
to PREJUDICE before such is presented Or In
other words the inquirer asks of the Office decide upon
his invention before he has done that which the law re-
aures he shall do in order to obtain such decision
4t The law has made provision tor such services IL
is part of the Legitimate duty of this office
1t shoped that this explanation viii prove satisfactory TO
ALL and that it will be distinctly understood that in decln
ing to espond the class of inquiries above stated, this
office acts under necessity ofhe and not from
any disposition" % "''A''N '''' EDMUND BURKE,
Commissioner of Patents.