Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-04-12
u,,rrp STATES rArsNrs roR is,,.


We learn from the Annual Report of the
Commissioner of Patents for the year 1855
that The total number Of applications durirg
the year, was 4435, and the entire number Of
patents issued, was 2024. In IS4i, the total
applications filed amounted to 947. The
cash received that year, amounted to S40,-
4l2. In 1855, the cash received amounted
TO SlT6,3S0. MIR. Mason SAYS that "the
augmentation in the number OF applications
has been greater during the past year, than
at any previous period ; ard that the in
crease in the number OF patents is not pro-
portionably great is due TO the fact that at
The commencement of the year 1854 there
we're S23 cases undisposed of in the office,
SO that the whole number OF cases acted
upon during that year exceeded four thou
sand At the beginning Of the year 1855
there were but 90 cases on hand, and on the
FIRST day of the present year only &c.
There are papers on file which show that
less than fifty years since the annual income
of the Office was only ubout $500. and that
for the seven years previous to 1926 the az
gregate amount secured WIS about $4,000
or an average Of $4,000 per nnnum. These
facts, taken in connexion with the last Of the
above statements, will show with what q
constantly accelerated rnpidity the march Of
invention has been progressing for the last
half century"
The following in relation to the rights of
inventors, will be read with interest -
The question Of patentability is often one
of the most delicate and difficult that can
ever arise before any tribunal A resort to
the testimony Of experts is frequently essen
till to Just and correct decision. The law
now makes no provision for this or any other
kind of testimony. No witness is obliged to
appear or to give testimony. unless he does
SO at his own option, and even il he swears
falsely. there is no statute penalty.
Without the meaus Of proving the practl-
cal working Of his machine, or without any
other legal testimony, the inventor sometimes
provides himself with few certificates, or
exparte aGidavits. sometimes Of doubtful au-
thenticity. and always regarded with gus
picion, and presents himself before the Office
is rejected appeals TO the iudge--who las
no adequate means Of arriving ut a correct
conclusiun--and thus is frequently deprived
Of his rights without an opportunity uf es-
iablishing them in the manner guaranteed TO
all other citizens.
Nor ought it to be supposed that these arc
matters Of trivial moment at least they are
not so to the individual most immediately IN
terested. To him the offspring of his mental
energies are something more than property ;
they are his children. for whom he has laborcd
through much Of the iairest Of life's mer-
dian, and On whom he relics FOR consolation
and support in the evening of its decline.
That he has now 10 sufficient opportunity
Of establishing his rights before properly
constituted tribunal is doubtless great de-
feet IN the present system. Whether that
defect shall be rcinedied. and. if SO. in what
manner, will be for Congress TO determine.
The above suggestions are not intended as
proposing any definite plan for modifying the
present laws bnt merely as presenting the
difficulties experienced, and furnishing some
hints which may serve AZ q basis for future
consideration hy the body TO whom the mat
ter is submitted
1t is recommended that an Examner-in-
Chief be appointed. whose duty it shall be.
10 review the action Of the present EXam.
ners, for the purpose Of introducing correc-
tions and uniformity Of decision.