The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-18
THE PATENT OFFICE.

|
| We have copy of the report Of Rufus R
| Rhodes, Esq, Commissioner of Patents, giving
history of the operations Of the Office under hi
control, and showing its condition on the lst o
| January, 1862, from which we make up the fol
lowing brief summary: Number of application
for patents during the past year, 304 caveats Ito
patents issued, 81; United States patents anc
assignments thereof recorded, 1l2; amount of fee
received, Sc, OOG 90; amount of expenditures, Sc
1888; excess Of receipts over expenditures, "
Sl2.62. The patents issued were distributed
among the several States thus: To citizens o
Virginia, Is; Georgia, g.; Alabama, I; Louisiana
s:ppi, 4; tennessee, 3; Arkansas, q Florida,
Texas, l. Eighteen of the patents that have beer
allowed cover improvements in firearms, or othe
destructive implements of war; and with the view
Of showing that some Of them have striking merit
the Commissioner points to the fact that they
have been adopted by the Government for use
against the enemy, after trial. in preference to in
ventions of similar character which, originating
in foreign countries, have received there the high
est approval of scientific and military men, A
considerable proportion of the mechanical improve
ments for which patents are sought relate to agri
cultural implements. 1t is also noted as an illus
traton OF the inventive genius of the South, called
into action by desire to aid the common cause,
that village schOolmaster in the State of Arkan-
sas, has received patent for an instrument fol-
measuring distances without the of los; arith ms
or other difficult process Of calculation, which, if
it but fulfill the expectations Of the inventor, is
likely to be of Immediately practical value in the
adjustment Of artillery to different ranges, whether
in liked batteries or in sevce In the field. The
Commissioner is informed that the instrument is
soon to be tested with guns at Nashville, and
there strong grounds for believing it will prove
complete success.-Richmond Dispatch.
A YANKEE NICELY CAUGHT A rowing
Yankee, glorying in the name of Allen Haynes,
asked permission of the jailor, Mr. Ormsby, yes
terday morning, to visit the prisoners confined in
Jail, which readily granted him. Entering
into conversation with the prisoners, he asked
them where they were from, when one of the
number told him he was from Boston. This en-
boldened the Yankee to make known the object
of his visit, which was, to contrve way for their
escape from the clutches of the rebels. He told
them he spy and had already released quite
number of prisoners. lie stated that he
going to Wetumpka, but would soon be back He
further stated that they Che prisoners) would soon
be sent to Tuscaloosa, when all would be right
with them, that fight had recently occurred in
Kentucky, where the rebels had been whipped,
and he glad of it. After giving the supposed
Yankee prisoners every encouragement, he left the
Jail, but upon the matter reaching the of our
Deputy Marshal, Mr. G W. Gillespy, he captured
the Yankee spy" and lodged him safely in Jail,
where he is left to reflect the beauties and
dangers of the Yankee spy system.-Nontgone'y
AdrertiSer