The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-12-17
Inventive Genius National.

So MUCH has the idea of the inventive
faculty become identified with New Eng
land, that it is almost impossible to think
of any new notion without the name
Yankee being connected with it. Yet, In
no one thing does the American nation
show its cosmopolitan character more
clearly than the wide distribution among
its peoples of the inventive talent.
The proportion of inventions coming
from various sections of the country, on
which, in its past history, the patent office
has issued papers, is about twO-thirds to
the Eastern States, and the one-third
balance nearly equally divided between
the West and South. This relative pro-
portion is gradually changing in favor OF
the North West; and no section OF the
Union shows greater ratio of inventive
talent and productions than the city OF
Chicago and its vicinity.
For thirty years we have watched with
great interest the many new and valuable
developments of genius from the Amerl-
can mind. The early struggles Of Bigeiow,
Goodyear, Howe, and others, whose names
are now immortal, were well known to us
as matters identified with our personal his
tory. These and others lived to see their
labors crowned with success; while more
we could name, sick with hope deferred,
lack of appreciation, and poverty, sank
into welcome grave before they received
reward.
Ordinarily, the inventor is little versed
in the knowledge requisite to make his
discoveries valuable to himself or avail
able to the public and the more worthy
the achievement, the more has he to en-
encounter in the effort to secure the result
of his labors. And; even when his
"parchment" is in his hands, his enter
prise is in constant danger of death by
suits at law, commenced by class of pro-
fessional harpies, on the lookout Tor every
birth of inventive genius. Unfortunately,
also, it often is the case that, when the IN
ventor has obtained the advice and AID OF q
competent party to protect his claims, ne
will find his agent has given counsel 70
others in the same line of effort, who,
selfish to secure his fees from all, thus
renders valueless the production OF the en-
tire party.
These difficulties that beset the steps OF
the inventor are well known to the capltal-
ist to whom he applies for aid and SO,
want of capital denied him on the one
hand, and the want of honesty on the
other, he loses heart and hope. Just here
comes into view the value of compe-
tent, honest counsel to the inventor.
The proper wording and presentation
of an application for a patent, 30 as to
make secure his claim, is as important to
the party making it as the invention itself
Our laws for the protection, and office for
the examination of patents, are the best
in the world; yet both show human i'm
perfection. 1t is often as needful that the
party making application should be in
formed as to what he might have granted
him, did he request it, that he has not
claimed, as to secure to him what he does
ask for; therefore the necessity of care
fully-worded patent upon an invention,
drawn up from examination by compe-
tent party. And this verdict the applicant
should secure before he goes or sends to
Washington.-Ch Chicago Bureau.