The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-04
The Patent Office.

We copy from the Scientific american the fol-.
owing interesting account OF the Patent Office:
The Patent Office IS the noblest building
4 architecturally speaking in Washington. 1t
. was originally founded exclusively for Patent
\ Office, but, upon the creation of the Department
of the Interior, its offices were located in the
Patent Office building, and the affairs of that
office were subordinate to the Interior Depart
ment.
The Scientific AB1e7con earnestly protested
against this arrangement, and the wisdom of
this Protest is now made as clear as q sunbeam
to all who have taken note of the wonderful
progress which has marked the history OF mven-
A tion during the past ten years.
The Patent Office is now finished according
+ to the original plans. over four hundred thou
4 sand dollars OF the patent fund have been abb
soTbed in its construction, while the office itself
has paid all its legitimate expenses out of its
receipts. If the business Of the Office continues
at the same ratio OF increase as in the past five
years, every available foot ,ot this immense
Btructure will be required tor its purposes and it
Ms TO be hoped in view of this patent fact, that
before the close of the next Congress a bill will
j be passed to establish the Patent Office on an
yfndeDendent basis, and that proper building for
= Fifty thousand patents have already been
1granted, to say nothing of the large number of
REJECTED cases. Models are now rapidly accu'
mulating, and, much sooner than many suppose
L. the cases now fitted for their reception win be
#flled. Either the eXaction of models must be
fdispensed with, or more room will have to be
M M9DDrOprlateQ tOr tlelr proper use.
Considerable surprise has been expressed that
Nfhe President should have so long neglected to
HhppOint a suitable person to fill the vacancy in
the Board of Appeals considering the great
accumulation of cases before that Board.
q Mr.. Theaker, formerly member Of the Board,
'is now Commissioner of Patents. MIR. Coombs
'resiGned some months ago, and has resumed the
1practice of law in Wasnington Mr.. Hodges, of
the old Board, alone remained. Judge Foote,
most excellent and competent man, has just
.bntered upon the duties of the Board, and will
II No good service. Four chief examiners in the
Patent Office DR.. Page, Mr.. blanchard, Mr..
~Peale and DR.. Doane, were applicants for this
#position, and were each strongly recommended
by their friends, but understand that the Pre-
=. sident has at last found the right man for the
right place in the person of Mr.. Fessenden, of
Maine, brother of Senator Fessenden, to fill the
&lvacanCy.
"a Respecting the new incumbent, have been
unable to learn anything definite as to his quail
catons. He belongs to family distinguished
for ability and practical good sense. The Board
has plenty of legal ability, ana 1t is to be hoped
that Mr.. Fessenden will bring to its aid the
nind of well.instructed and experienced me.
fhanic.
THE NEW COMMISSIONER.
Commissioner bTheaker possesses a full and
Thorough knowledge of hls duties. He well de-
erves the confidence and cheerful support of
The whole clerical force of the office. No man
Who has ever filled that important chair brings
10 its duties a higher purpose to discharge his
rust more faithfully and earnestly; and now
9hat the vacancy in the Board OF Appeals is
+ tlled trust shat he will reclassify the whole
business of the Office, so that the labors may be
nore equItably distributed.
I Some of the examiners are overworked for
3Want of proper assistants, while others have not
9nough to do; hence, while in some classes the
york is well up, in others there is an unusual
formulation Of cases. If there are any drones
p the hive they ought to be expelled, and il
yould be on act of well-merited Justice TO pro
pote some of the assistant examiners who have
% long and faithfully discharged the duties Of
Principals.
trust that the Commissioner will resolutely
sc his influence to promote these much needed
reforms and changes. The duties of chief clerk
ire now ably performed by Thomas Harland
ESQ.,, of Norwich Conn.
The business of the Office was never so large
Is now. During the month of October six hun
4 red and twenty-eieht patents were issued, and
pward OF five hundred will PROBABLY Issue dur
Big the month of November. / think the re
r. ords will show that fully one third of the whole
we're clients of the Scientific American Paten
Agency, the balance being divided between hun
z lreds OF local agencies IN the various cities o
1ukhe Union.