Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1859-08-24

The United States Patent omoe---Sketeh OF
it's History.

The United States Patent onoe---SlSetoh O
its History
To the student in pursuit of knowledge upor
any branch of science and invention there is NJ
museum or collection Of material in this cnuntr,
at all TO compare with that so beautifully anl
artisucally arranged in the spacious halls anC
galleries of the Patent Office. Like the Other
institutions of the Federal Government, the
growth Of this Office has increased with tho deye,
lopment OF the resources and rapid expansion OF
the power and population of the Republic. A
glance ut its history shows that such an establish,
ment early attracted the attention of the wise
and able men OF the revolutionary era. Hence
we find that, on the 10th of April 1890, Congress
passed an act authorizing tho Secretary of State
the Secretary OF war, and tho Attorney General
OF any TWO oil them, to grant patents for such
new inventions and discoveries as they should
deem sufficiently useful and important. This act.
which originated the Patent Office was repealed
and now act passed on the 2lst of February,
1913. Under this latter act patents were coniln-
ed to the citizens of the United States, and they
were to be granted by the Secretary of State sub
ect to the revision of tho Attorney General. BY
the act of the 18th Of April 1900, the privilege
of SUNG out patent WAS extended to aliens of
two years residence in the United States, and the
act of July l3, 1882, only required the alien to
be resident at the time of his application for q
uHu W IuNc utCliTcu intention, nccOru-
ing to law, to become a citizen. BY tho act of
Congress OF July 4, 1886, all former laws on the
subject were repealed, and the patent system re-
enacted with important improvements, embody-
ing new organization of the Office, and confer
ring upon it much more extensive powers than it
had heretofore possessed. Under this act the es-
tablishment was organized essentially as it exists
at this day, except that by subsequent acts the
power OF appeal was allowed from the decision of
tho Commissioner to either of the judges of the
Circuit Court Of the District of Columbia The
Patent Office occupied part of the General Post
Office building, which was destroyed by fire on
the 18th of December 1886. Ali its invaluable
contents were lost by this sad accident; and by
the act of Sd of March, 1857, Congress provided
for the recording anew of patents and assignments
OF patents recorded prior to the date of the con-
migration, and for issuing new patents for those
destroyed. The officers of the Patent Office were
also directed to procure duplicates of the most
models destroyed, at an expense not
exceeding 100000. The loss of the Patent Of
flee, or rather of it's contains caused deep sem
sation throughout the country; and universal re-
gret was expressed on all hands at this untoward
event. Even the ruthless Admiral Cockburn,
who fired tho Capitol and Presidents House, and
other public ediiccs in this city, had spared the
Patent Office, and yet accident in n few hours,
had destroyed the labors ofmany men for many
years, which even that modern barbarian feared
to touch.
This sketch of the legislation of Congress on
he subject of patents, familiar us it is to the pro-
lcssional man. may give to the general reader an |
idea of the early and continuous Importance at
tached by the lawmakers to this important
branch Of the Government. Growing out of. and |
forming as it were integral pertius of, the
patent system is what may DO termed the patent
aw branch of our jurisprudence The minds of
The most eminent of our jurists, both on the bench
md at the bar, have been taxed to the utmost by
he lntrcacy and sublety of the Investigations Of
many cases which have arisen and been adiudicat-
I'd upon under these laws. A legal writer Justly
erms the patent law branch of our Jurisprudence
'the metaphysics of the law And SO it must
continue to be and to increase because of the in
reasins spirit of improvement in agriculture and
and machinery, both here and in
europe The Patent Office is essentially and ne
essarily national institution in every sense of
he word, and will always remain so, inasmuch
IS it would be lmpracticable for the States Sc
'arately to make provision for the eflectual pro-
ectlon of the rights secured to inventors under
he patent laws
All parties concerned in patents, W neither as
INVENTORS or users of the machine for which thoy
re granted, are fully aware of the importance Of
he faithful execution and enforcement of the pa
ent laws; and there is no class of cases tried in
ur courts in which the community generally
AXE more interest.
In all countries, and in all ages inventors or
iscoverers of any new agent or implement useful
o man in his varied pursuits, have been consi-
d as among the most valuable citizens of the
tate, and deserving of it's encouragement and
rotection. Oflate years this appreciation of
uch men seems greatly to have increased, both
n the United States and in Europe. We trust
hat it will ever be so, and that worth and merit
n whatever walk of life it may develop itself,
lay always meet with rccomponse and reward. !