Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-02-14
WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

ton following these remarks. 1t treats of the
claims of inventors to the consideration of the
National Legislature, and places the prorrle'y
of the extension of patents by Congress in q
far more favorable light than any in which
We have ever before viewed it. 1t is mild,
moderate, and cogent, and, We think, cannot
fail to strike others, as it certainly strikes
Us as being q powerful and almost conclusive
argument in favor ofthe moro frequent exercise
Of the power of Congress to grant extension of
patents for useful inventions. We take occa.
sion to say, without the writer's knowledge or
consent, that he has himself done perhaps as
much for his country's progress in the useful
arts, and in its intellectual improvement, as
any man now living; being tho inventor of q
machine which has been the means of diffusinp
more useful knowledge among men, upon all
conceivable subjects, han that of any other in.
ventor who has lived since the days of Faust
having achieved, too, a world wide reputation
by his invention, if it has NOT, as We know it
has not, been the means of adding to his world
ly wealth. He, too, has an application before
Congress for an extension of his patent for
the machine to which we refer above, to which
our names will be found appended among
those Of the petitioners in his favor, in com.
mon with the names of every other person in the
United States who have occasion to use his
machines in their business. Indeed, his case
is most remarkable one; inasmuch as every
one OF his countrymen, who have occasion to
use his patent, unite in asking Congress to ex
tend 1t, while no rival in business or other
person raises his voice against the granting of
his prayer. The secret of this remarkable
state of things in his case, lies in the fact,
that, in order to bring his beautii al compli-
Gated and complete machine into general use
he has put down it's price at 80 10 W a figure,
that no one has undertaken to infringe his
patent AS all in the printing business who
have extensive Offices are we'll aware of the
fact that he has sold his machines at the lew
est possible prices, all Of them come forward
to ask Congress to extend his patent, that he
and they may continue hereafter to work as
hsrmoniously together, as heretofore:
TO THE EDITORS OF THE STAR
Sirs Il have the impression hat you have.
from the beginning, been opposed to the ex-
tension of the patents pertaining to the two
cases decided on Friday and Saturday, ad.
versely to the prayers of the petitioners.
Whatever the merits or dement's of those par
ticular cases may be- [ cannot help believing
that you will agree with me in thinking that
injustice was done to mechanics in the debates
on those cases 1t was, in substance urged
that everything hai been done for mechanics.
while nothing of consequence had been done
for ag.iculturists. 1t was, however, at the
same time admitted that Congress b sd made a
direct grant of S25, 600 to furnish agriculturists
with seeds; and an honorable member com.
planned that Congress had refused to establish
an agricultural school.
Now, let me ask, Messrs E litors, when Con
gress made direct grant of S25 900 or any
other sum, to mechanics as a class to furnish
them with stock" or Z" tools" by which 10
improve or carry on the mechani, arts Also
when mechanics asked Congress for appropri-
atoms to establish mechanical schools Me.
chanics ask for no such help from Congress
On the contrary, they ever pay government
TOR all patent expenses, and appropriate every
year, from their own hard earnings, hundreds
OF thousands Of dollars to the improvement of
the mechanic arts in every branch of indus
try; and it is notorious that as general rule
they are not half paid for their efforts and ex.
penditures
1t is true that few inventors have succeed.
ed in gaining comfortable fortunes by means
of their inventions, joined with untiripg efforts
and all the means they could possibly raise,
to venture upon an uncertain ocean of enter
prise nd the law has been barely sufficient
to furnish those few bright spots in the boro-
scope to serve as will o'-the wisps to other
inventors, and delude so many of them over
untrod wastes all the best years of their lives,
where, but for them, unmitigated and eterna!
poverty would reign.
Look at the record Of their names ASCERTAIN
their situations, and consider their efforts and
ials, and you will find that few of them have
much tangible reason to bless Government for
its protection of their inventions.
The inventor of the shoe last and gupstoek
machine ian invention worth millions of dol
lars to the country is said now to be comfort
ably situated as to property. But had he not
gained an extension of his patent by Congress,
"a years. he would have been a loser by thai
invention.
1t was intimated in the debate that Morse
had, or was likely to realize large sums on his
telegraph. Well, who can estimate the value
OF the electric telegraph to the world? Its
value cannot be stated in dollars and cents.
1t was also said that Colt had $3.50, 600
worth Of machinery and other business appli.
ances In his possession. So be it, But if he
bas given to his country an instrument which
b as saved it hundreds Of thousands of dollars,
largely to our late victories, and
in that way been the means of saving hun
dIeds-perhaps thousands-of the lives of his
an instrument which to the emf.
grant upon his wild path to the western world
is equal to five men armed with the old fash
Toned pistol; and if he and his friends twenty
years ago invested $500, 900, and expended it
In perfecting and introducing that instrument,
1t seems reasonable that he should now have
something to show for it. Yes, something
besides mere living and interest on money
something for his invention.
In regard to agriculrurists, the same laws
which protect mechanical inventors, equally
protect them. II is not, however, to Congress
that g -iculturists are principally indebted
Tor their prosperity; but it is to mechanical
Have not the gin" and other cotton ma
,hinery, enabled the cotton planter to substi
tute the production Of his fields for the silks
anu linens OF Asia and Europe to such an ex-
tent that In has hecoma sub;a,t sc