The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-02-11
The water Wheel" Claims.

If late, in this region, growing out Of the
novel caims made by one z. Parker, Of
Ohio, (ihrough his agents, on The owners Of
patent Water Wheels, who came honestly
by their rights, and paid for them years a
90. These Wheels are mostly constructed
after the model for which patent was given
in 1922. Parker made certain improves
ments on that Wheelfor which patent VIA
granted il 1910. How this las, patent can
give him any just claim on those who hold
under the previous tine, We do not under
stand - though there may be grounds
Tor this claim which we have not learned.
a correspondent of the Free Press eau
TORS the public against these claims, and
suenunus, denies that they have any foun-
dation in equity. After aluding to the a
gents of MIR. Parker, that writer says:
There arc four Of them, they commenc.
cd operations in Vermont some months since
in due form. LAWYERS were feed, in case
Of suits. and required TO examine papers
certify rs 10 their validity, give written O.
pinion oh the merits OF the Patent, and the
chances Of Defendant in suits brought by
Parker to recover damages for infringe
mcns of his Patent. A bomhasiic circular
headed "TRUTm IS MIGHTY AND Will
PREVAIL" was issued, alter the manner oil
Quacks. Each County Of the State was Wis.,
tied in turn. Every waterfall in use was
hunted up Every saw. mill owner using the
Wheel was assessed, and the screws applied
10 exact from him the full payment Vt the
assessment. In every place legal gcnllemen
and mechanics were enlisted ~ help through
the process. In this way Vermont has been
gone over BY these agents successfully, and
the other New England States await the pro-
cess
have few things 10 say with regard to
these proceedings, allowing the patent TO
have been valid
ls,. The damages claimed and obtained
were exorbitant and oppressive, and such
As would no, have been obtaincd for the ure
uf the Patent beforehand. a saw-mill in II
mountain distric,,on small stream depend.
ing on fieshets for its time of saving, is OF
very little value to the owner. II saws per>
hnps during the wear leo 900 feet Of lum
Der. at II charge oil $3.50, Deduct f ON this
sum cost Of mill, expense Of running, AMI
a saw>mil will DC seen 10 be hardly worth
owning. The cost OF n mill is about $500 !;
after five years the mill is done with, rs to
profit, rs the repairs thereafter equal earn
in.s. ~ that from the S250,must be deduct,
ed annually 500. 10 pay the cost Of the
mill. For tho labor and profit, and small
repairs, only $3.50 remains to the owner
But for he use of the Patent, the two last
ears If its existence. uu,lcr such circum-
stances, The sam Of S25 were exac.ed.
2d The legal gentlemen who have for
consideration sold themselves to these A.
gents are uot usifahlc. What if the Pat,
ent be valid ? Should it. therefore. be made
an engine of oppression Are The Agents
of the Palcntee warranted thereby to take
from innocent parties any more than value?
In the wriAen legal opinions. exhibited by
these Agents. and given by various gentle
men of the Bar. not one expressive Of fear
oil the abuse of his power by the Agent. or
of sympathy Tor the ignorant and inviting
offender can be found The style of the
documents is 10 the user of the Patent, Sir,
whatever is legal is right The patent il
legal, NV fee requires me to side with the
Paten'ee in his expressions. Should no.
the Reproductions Of our community, showered
us the, have been nlor these Agents. be
shared bv the law, ers who have been their
willing helpers?
Sd. The writing Of this Mr.. Parker. ie
leasing infringcrs oil his putcn, from liability,
thereto; c. TO my mind indicates knavery. ]
have i, before me. 1: commences by deed
ing right TO use u Wafer Wheel of a Ger
tain description patented 9th June. 1910, Il
wheel of which only one exists in the State.
and against which there is no prciepce Of i'll
Fl ingement, and at the close releases the in.
dividua' from all claim for damages in conse.
qnence OF the use Of a certain other patent.
daed 10Th October, a. ID. 1929, the one IN
question, and which expired in 1850. The
appearance is tina, these Agents, going about
10 sell certain patent right, drive men to
purchase who do not want il, by pretcxt OF
damages for the use Of a certain other right.
Should be mistaken here. il is easy TO see
that the conveyance OF new right is made
an excuse for exacling understandable dam.
ages. In either case, the Iascaliy is mani
fest.
4th. These Agents report that Parker is
new at Washington asking an extension OF
his Patent with fair prospects of success
They represent him as immensely rirh, so
rich thai no defendant in suit can hope TO
compete Nth him. He has eno, ed his Pat.
ent already 2 years, aud become enriched
by it at the public expense. These Agents
before they leave The New England States
will realize on the Old Patent. say, $780,
900, taking their success in Vermont as a
criterion. In the State of Maine they ex-
pect TO tatlen How much more in the old
er States But Congress are piled for
second extension. How true il is that the
more a man has the more greedy he be-
comes.
! caution, therefor, all Jurors against al
lowing more than nominal damages in these
Parker cases. The man deserves well OF HI,
country who resisls payment and appeals to
a jury.
caution legal gentlemen, as they value
their sanding in community, against binds
ing themselves for a pittance 10 The purpose
OF those who grind the faces Of lie poor.
though it he " according 10 Law
| caution The public against suffering the
renewal, especially OF this patent, by act Of
Congress. 1t only needs the voice Of re-
monslrance TO prevent our Representatives
from casting ihsir votes for it Why should
we complain OF such men as these Agents,
and these proceedings and not use the simple
means suggested, aud which aie under our
governmentihe peoplr'sremcdy and defence
against oppression, 10 thwart themt fl.
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