The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-23

Notwithstanding the rapid decline in the business of
the Office during the months of October November and
December the aggregate number of patents the year.
exceeded those of 1856 by four hundred eight This
regularly progressive augmentation which from year
year has been long announced is due alike to the in
hecnt and rrepressbe energy of the national mind and
to the admirable system by which it excited and foster
ed That system wisely avoids the axity of European
laws, which grant patents Of course all applca
tions upon payment of tho fees, and leave their
value to be subsequently tested by the pro-
cess Of protracted litigation As decidedly, the other
hand, does it cschew that stern, unsympathzng dis
trusting temper which would receive the inventor
stranger beneath the roof Of this magnificent edifce
which has been reared at his ge-
MUS and depository Of the trophies of his labors
That better policy, which adopts the happy medium be-
tween these two equally pencious extremes and which,
while welcoming the inventor friend and patron in
that frank and free conference with him cnoined by law
kindly and anxiously sifts from his invention its mnu
test patenabc features, is policy essentially American
in its origin and aims and must be infexby maintained
in the administration of this Office long it remains
faithful to the high mission with which it has been
charged The restless activity which has distinguished
the inventive genius of the country during the past
has been confined to class pursuit Alike from tho
walks of science the workshops of the mechanic and the
broad lands of the husbandman, inventions have
thronging to this office, demonstrating how completely
the national intellect is emancipated from the shackes
the past and with what intense zeal it is pursuing that
of glory which is open before While every part
of the field of invention has been assiduousy occupied
that relating to agriculture has proved most fruitful OF
the twenty nine hundred and patents issued four hun
dred and thirty gins, rcecleaners and fer
tzers includedwere for agricultural processes and i'm
plements This is most grateful feature i'm the year
operations for the virtues of Cncnnatus have ever
been found like that ustrious patriot at the plough so
every Improvement in the arts and sciences tending to
develop the strength and advance the general prosperity
of the tllers of the spi in broadening and deepening
those foundations which, alike in calm and in storm
the republic must rely for its security.
The characteristics of the inventions of the past wear
have been decidedly utilitarian But little attention
to have been bestowed upon articles of mere lux
ury The unceasing inquiry has been for agencies capa
BILE of yielding the largest amount of the elements of hu
comfort with the least possible expenditure Of hu
labor This is certainly in the direction
Of the highest type of civilization for until the masses of
mankind shall have been relieved from the pressure of
that ccasecss toll which renders life in its WEAKNESS but
reflection of the fablcd tortcs of Sisyphus it will be in
vain to expect for the mental and moral nature of
more than the morning twilight of that develop
ment whose MONDAY splenors have been so long the
dream and the hope of the phianthropist
No. 2.
Statement Of moneys receiued at e Patent Office during The gear
1857.
Received applications for patents reissues additional
improvements extensions, caveats, disclaimers, and
appeals SlS2, $50 90
Received for copies and recording assign
ments- ---------------------- 1882 OIL
Total 196132 OF
No 3.
Statement Of expenditures from The Patent Fund during the gear
1867.
For salaries 80 SS2,7ll 23
For temporary clerks ks------------------- 1896 so
For contingent expenses scs-------------- AZ, lO7 SO
For payments to Judges in appeal cases. 800 90
For refunding money paid into the trcasu-
ry by mistake ---------------------- 206 SO
For refunding money Withdrawals ----- $500 9s
Total ,5s2 90
The above aggregates of receipts and expenditures
crued rs follows
In the LIST Second Third Total.
quarter. quarter quarter quarter
Receipts ss5 2so % s6o7ss OIL
4 endi'
lures So,72l s. 5o7se 50 5atsa 81 4sio 2IIbs2 90