Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-23

diligence In future. The British Post Office has
been requested to return to this country all
newspapers, &c, ILLEGALLY forwarded from the
United States at printed rates) with the view
to prosecute the senders forlthe penalty of FIRE
dollars for each offence prescribed by the act
of Sd March, 1852.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS
Hon. j. Holt Commissioner of Patents trans
mitted to Congress on the Goth instant, his FIRST
annual report. 1t gives full summary of the
operations of this department during the past
year, and suggests several improvements in the
patent laws. From it we gather the following,
viz:
Applications for PATENTS during year 1857. HI
Patents granted, including designs, 9IO
Granted to citizens of the United States - SOS
Granted TO citizens of other countries az
This shows an excess of 4OS in the number of
patents issued, over those issued during the
preceding year.
The financial operations of the department
are stated thus:
Receipts of the office for the year were sIo6 1872 Ol
Expenditures for the same time. 2l1 $50 90
Excess of expenditures over receipts 15,45O Us
The expenditures have been increased on ac-
count of payments for stationery parchment
and books purchased in 1856. The statement
of the patent fund is as follows:
Amount on hand January !, 1857 .s55. I69 81
- received during the year...... 1876 1872 Of
- Iotai resources ....-......... PSI ,30l So
Expenditures for the year 2II $50 90
Balance, January I, 1858 1918 46
The imperfections in the patent laws espe-
cially point ed out are that no provision is made
for compelling the attendance of witnesses and
obliging them to testify in respect to applica-
tons for the extension of patents and in inter-
ference cases. The power of subpoena is rec
commended as remedy for this defect, A
permanent board of three examiners is sug-
gested by the Commissioner, to hear and deter
mine appeals from the primary examinations.
and the necessity of this regulation is urged
because it has become impractcable for the
Commissioner to attend to all these cases in
person.
Power to remove models on which applica-
tons for patents have been rejected, and models
for designs that have accumulated to an incon-
venient extent is likewise recommended and
II is suggested that change in the regulations
respecting the patent fees be also made, so that
the fees shall be paid step by step as the OK
aminations progress, and whether patents are
granted or not. In consideration that some
applications have been made by slaves, who
are incompetent to take the oath required, the
attention Of Congress is called to that subject
More stringent legislation to secure the right
of property i'll patents, and an equalization of
the patent fees whether the applicants be citi-
zens or foreigners, are also recommended and
for each proposed alteration in the laws, the
Commissioner gives practical and cogent rea-
sons.
MILITARY ROAD Built will be remem-
| bered that Hon. Isaac S. Stevens, delegate in
the House Of Representatives from Washington
Territory, gave notice few days ago that be
would introduce bill for facilitating the in
ter-communication between the Territories of
Washington and Oregon. We now understand
that this bill contemplates the construction of
wagon road from near Fort Bender, at the
head of steamboat navigation on the Missouri
river, to point at or near Fort Wallawalla, at
the head OF steamboat navigation on the Co.
lumbia river The intermediate distance is
said to be about FIVE hundred miles and the
yond all question. In fact we are Informed
that Mr.. S. has himself travelled over most of
the route, and has entirely reliable Information
respecting the other portions of it.
The feasibility of the project is, therefore,
with him, rendered matter of certainty. The
| main reason for the establishment of this road
is with view to facilitate military movements.
The bill will be submitted to Congress in few
days.
DECEASED The War Department has re-
ceived intelligence by the last mail of the de-
cease of Capt. Charles ii. Humber, of the 9Th
Infantry. This officer died at Fort Smith. Ar
kansas, on the night of the I'd inst
NoMrSATroNs.-JohnW w. Dixon, of Louisi.
ana, and Miles II. Morris, of Missis sippi. have
been nominated by the Secretary of the NAVY
to be Pursers in the United States naval service.
The WEArHER.-The following report of the
weather for this morning is made from the Morse
Telegraph line to the Smithsonian Institution.
The time Of observation is about o'clock a. M:
JANUARY %, 1853
Buffalo, y. w.. clear, cold.
New YORK, N clear, cool.
Philadelphia Pace. clear, cold.
Baltimore, Md. clear cold
Washington, ID. C ....... clear, cold
Richmond, Va ........... cloudy cold
Petersburg, cloudy, cool.
LyBchburg, Va........... cloudy, cool
Bristol, Gtnn.... clear, CT Of.
NoTfolk, va. ......-.......co cold.
Raleigh, N. c.. clear, cool.
Wilmington, N. clear, cold.
Columbia, 5. q cloudy. cold.
Charleston, !. C.......... .cloudy, cold.
Augusta, Ga cloudy, cold.
Savannah, Ga cloudy, cold.
Macon, Ga. clear, cold.
~ Ca al.