Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-12-08
The Patent Once.

By synoptcai statement Furnished to the Interior ID.
partment By tho Commissioner Of Patents which treats
matters pertaining to that oce up to the 18th Of Noyem
Der, VIC arc put In possession OF the following:
Previous to the year 1885, the hghest number Of pa,
en issued In any one o76 whi,h was in isls
In 1905 the number was only s5s. In 1884, tncreasc,
| to l,so2, and In 1888, Il augmented 70 sos4
From small beginnings the Patent Office has grown int.
proportions comparatively gigantic. Half century snc
the whole OF tho Office did not exceed 81 500 pc
annum which all appropriated to the payment Of ont
clerk, who transacted the whole business OF the Office
The income OF the present year will be about 5000 900
which will still be scarcely sufficient deray the contin
gent expenses Of the Office With its hundred examiners
clerks and other employees. ..
1--we compare tho present condition Of the Office with
what IL few years siacc we shall ud that during
the four years previous to 1885, the average num-
Der Of applications for patents ,522, while for tho
four from s53 inclusive such average annual num-
Der will fall but little short Of four thousand
The number of patents annually increased during the
former period averages 900. During the latter il will
be about $780, For the year the whole number
applications made the whole nambcr of patents granted
and the whole Of revenue received will rcspec-
lively be at least double what they were in any one
year prior TO 1858.
The number OF applications for patents in this office in
1885, was greater than those in the Office Of any other
country on GARTH having boen 4I35 against 295s in
Great Britain and 1886 in France. For the present year.
the number Of applications will probably not fall short Of
6re hossandi
In addition to the business Of the Patent Office proper
Congress has devolved upon tho Commissioner Of Patents
the supervision of the National Gallery the control aud
disposition Of the fund annually appropriated for agricul
u purposes The former OF these duties is of compar-
avCy very small moment the latter is Of very great and
rapidly growing importance
There seems 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 in 1899 the
Commissioners Of Patents authorized apply 81 900
for the purpose OF procuring agricultural statistics For
many subsequent to that time annual
were made from the same fund for similar purpose
These were increased from time to time until they reach
cd the OF 0OO when they remained nearly station
AIRY for several years.
In 1854 the appropriation increased $4,000 and
made payable Of the general treasury and the appro-
patoR for the present year has been sweed TO the sum
OF 100000. The objects embraced in this appropriation
are declared to be he collection of agricultural statistics
Investigations for promoting agriculture and rural ecouo-
my and the procurement and distribution Of cuttings and
seeds"
taken to procure cuttings aud seeds from every quar-
ter OF the world where any product can be found
which likely TO prove useful in any portion of the Uni
ted States Many productions of great probable ut
lily have thus been already introduced and other ones be
ing sought for wherever there any prospect
Among other things vessel has just been sent to South
America to procure fresh supply of cuttings Of the SUI
gar cane to furnish southern planters with fresh
stock to supply the place OF that which supposed to
have become dereroraed by being transferred to- some
what incongenial climate.
The benefits resulting from the appropriations already
made have doubtless been far than justify the ex
pendures incurred Unless there be some objections Of
political Character the system is believed to be founded
in wisdom If the appropriations be udiciousy APP
Piled and restrained within proper limits they will prove
emnenty beneficial and their continuance will be clearly
expedent unless there counerbaaneng reasons re.
sung from doubts to the propriety Of such underta
king by the Federal Government