The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
PATENT OFFICE.

On the 30th of September last, the indefati-
gable Commissioner of Patents, Charles Mason,
Esq, furnished the Secretary of the Interior
with synoptical statement showing the opera
tons of his Office since the 4th of March, 1853.
At that period, the amount of arrearages ex-
ceeded one thousand cases which had been con.
stantly increasing for more than year previous.
1t continued to increase until the first of July
following. With an additional force of exami-
ners and clerks authorized by Congress, the ar
rearages as well as the rapidly accommodating
current business has been brought within a
limit entirely satisfactory.
Previous to the year 1858 the highest mum.
Der of patents issued in any one year was l,O76,
which was in l849. In 1853 the number was
only $50. In 1854 it increased to 1902, and
in 1855 it was augmented to 2,024.
The large hall in the east wing of the Office
has been completed and filled up with cases
which afford space sufficient for the convenient
exhibition of all the models of patented inven-
tons now in the Office. The hall in the west
wing will also be in readiness for a similar
purpose during the ensuing yaar, which will
furnish conveniences for the full exhibition of
all the models of rejected applications for some
years to come.
On the 18th November last the Commissioner
made supplemental statement, as follows:
From small beginnings, the Patent Office
has grown into proportions comparatively gi-
gantic. half century since, the whole revenue
of the office did not exceed 81, 800 per annum,
which was all appropriated to the payment of
one clerk, who transacted the entire business
of the Office. The income of the present wear
will be about 100000; which will still be
scarcely sufficient to defray the contingent ex-
penses of the Office, with It's one hundred ex-
aminers, clerks, and other employees.
Ii we compare the present condition of the
office with what it was a few years since, we
shall find that during the four years previous
to 1853 the average annual number of applica
| tons for patents was 1892, while for the four
years from 1853, inclusive, such average annual
number will fall but little short of four thou
| sand!
"The number of patents annually Issued
during the former period averages $50. During
the latter it will be about 1850. For the cur.
rent year the whole number Of applications
made, the whole number of patents granted,
and the whole amount of revenue recei we'd, will
respectively be at least double to what they
were in any one year prior to 1853.
The number of applications for pat,nts in
this ONCE in 1856 was greater than thnse in
the office of any other country on earth, having
been A, 435, against 2, $50 in Great Britain and
| 4,O56 in France. For the present year the UNI
Der of applications will probably not fall hort
of fire housdndi
| "The business of the Office seems to have
out-grown the system upon which it has thus
far been conducted, which was adapted to a
previous stage of its existence. Thewisdom
Of Congress will be advantageously exercised
in making such notifications as present circum.
stances require. Instead of entering into the
discussion of this subject, beg leave respect
fully to refer to my report to Congress for the
year 1855.
| GIN addition to the business of the Patent
Office proper, Congress has devolved upon the
Commissioner of Patents the supervision of the
National Gallery and the control and DISPOSE
ton of the fund annually appropriated for
agricultural purposes. The former of these
duties is of comparatively small moment the
latter is of very great and rapidly growing i'm
portance.
There seems no very natural and immediate
connection between the proper business of the
Patent Office and the subject of agriculture
except in their mutual relation to the industrial
pursuits of the people. But the revenues Of
the Patent Office being somewhat in excess in
1899, the Commissioner of Patents was author
lied to apply 81 900 for the purpose of procu
ring agricultural statistics. For many years
subsequent to that time, annual appropriation
were made from the same fund for similal