Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-03-02
PATENT OFFICE.

PATENT OFFICE.
From the Report of the Commissioner of
Patents tor the past year, we condense the
following The whole number OF applicants
for patents in the year ending 3lst December,
IS4s, 1928 Number of caveats filed during
same period, 6O7. Number of patents issued,
$50. Receipts of the office s67.576 SO; of
which sum Sill ,529 SO, paid by mistake into
Office, has been refunded. Expenses of the
office 1881 81, which, with the above,
makes $58,9O5 Cd, leaving a balance to be
carried to credit of Patent fund of $3.50 IS
On the list of January, 1848, the amount of
money in the Treasury TO the credit of the
Patent Office. was s207,797 %; to which,
add excess OF receipts over expenditures for
past, and the amount now in the Treasury,
(1st January, l849,) to credit of Patent Office,
is $216,46S SO.
This large balance is attributed to increase
OF applications for patents, "By the act OF
Congress approved May 81, 1s48. two prin-
cipal and two assistant examiners, and two
ordinary clerks, were added to the force of the
office. and the salaries of the examiners were
raised from ST 500 year to $4,000, and the
assistant examiners from 81 $50 to 81 500
The clerks authorized by the act before men.
toned were allowed salaries of 200 each
per annum. Thus the increase of the mum.
Der of examiners and clerks, and of salaries
provided for by the act of May 81, 184S, will
occasion an addition TO the annual expendi
lures of the Office of 1860. This amount
will be reduced by fees for recording assign.
ments, authorized 10 be charged by the same
act; but the permanent addition to the expen
ses of the Office will not be less than $40 600
per annum.
Notwithstanding this addition to the per
manent expenditures of the Office, the constan
increase of its business and receipts gives am
pie assurance that its revenues will continue
to equal, if not exceed its expenses. But if it.
revenues should for year or two, fall below
its expenditures, the Patent fund is sufficien
to meet such casual deficiencies; and thus tn,
policy of Congress in making the Patent Of
flee self-sustaining institution will success
fully be maintained.
"The quantity OF wheat raised in the Unitet
States during the last year will, according II
the estimates of this office, not be less thai
126,OOO,O00 bushels. The quantity of corr
produced is estimated to be about 5s8, 600, 0OI
bushels; oats, 1876, 0GO, 900 bushels; potatoes
$4,000, 900 bushels; rye, 80 1000, 900 bushels
buckwheat. 12,5Oo,OOO bushels; barley
6,222, 900 bushels; hay, 1885, 900 tons
hemp, 2O,33O tons cotton, 1,O66, 600, 90
pounds; tobacco, PIG, 100000 pounds; rice
1l6,OOO,Ooo pounds; and sugar, Gin Louis
ana,) 2OO,OOO,OOO pounds
"Thus it will be seen that the agriculture
productions of the Union during the last yea
are ample for the consumption of the country
and of many varieties OF grain and provisions
large SURPRISES will be left for expectation t
other countries
'Tbe number of applications for patent
received during the last four years exceed
the number received during the next precedin
four years, by 2,2o5; the number of caveat
by $40; the number of patents granted, b
2S9; the amount of recei pts from all source
by ST. 1884 As; the balances paid into the trea
sury to the credit OF the Patent fund, by $21,
3S9 95"
The library the patent Office has also bee
increased from 5000 to 5000 volumes. TIL
report concludes as follows:
The exhibit which have made in this an
previous portions of my report, of the affair
and business OF the Patent Office, show that
will soon be necessary not only TO enlarg
the Patent Office building, but to increase il
clerical force. And as it required three year
of persevering effort on my part sustained b
the auxiliary aid of loud complaints or tn
part of applicants for patents. growing out c
the delay occasioned by the great accumula
ton of business which could not be done, t
obtain the late addition which has been mad
E to the clerical force of the office, have deem
ed 1t my duty now 10 apprize Congress thu
but very few years will elapse before al
2 other addition to its force will be necessary
AS the Office sustains itself from its own re
venues, II seems reasonable that it should be a
lowed force sufficient for the prompt and Ell
fcient execution of its duties.
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