Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-12-03
BUREAU REPORTS.
PatRnAs

BUREAU KEPOkIS.
Patents.
The Commissioner of Patents, Gen. NJ. d.
Leggett. submitted his report to the Secre-
tary of tie Interior only a few days prior to
reslgning the Office. He says that the num-
Der of applications and of patents granted Is
9 Sigh. increase upon those of the preceding
year. The prompt publication of abstracts of
patents issued-the publications. being made
at the same time that the patents are mailed
to the inventors-has probably very consid-
erably diminished the number of applications
for patents. and has Improved the character
of such applications. thereby warrant,ng the
issue of patents for much larger proportion
than could otherwise be granted. Before the
establishment of the Patent Office Gazette 1T
was from two and a half to three years after
the issue Of q patent before the public had
any means Of knowing of its contents. Con-
sequently there would be in existence from
$4,000 to $4,000 patents, the substance OF
which was sealed to all except their owners;
hence applications were constantly being
made to patent devices which had been previ-
ously patented by others.
Since 1886 there have been issued over
155, 900 patents. Each annual report of the
Commissioner has contained list of the pat
ents granted during the year, but no general
index was prepared. The labor or searching
patents was greatly increased, and there was
large liability to mistakes on this account.
During the last two years general index has
been prepared of all the patents issued to the
present time. This index will be published
in two sets OF three volumes. One set will
be a subject-4natter index. and the other an
index of names. The subject-matter index is
in press, and nearly ready to issue. The in
dex has been stereotyped and wall be sold at
$40 per set, ultimately reimbursing the office
for the cost of their preparation.
In carrying on the work for the reproduc-
ton of the drawings of old patents, the Com
missioner has caused entire classes to be taken
up, and all the old patents have been repro
duced chronoiogically from July 1, 1871 be-
Sides thirty-five entire classes have been COM
pleted. The Importance of multiplying these
drawings is illustrated and explained. 1t ex-
pedites tina work of the Office, and renders the
duplication of patents less likely. The du-
plication of patents Of certain classes is
matter that brings great injury upon the in
ventors and manufacturing interest of the
country. Since the reproduction Of the class
:. Harvesters, enough copies have been sold
to inventors and manufacturers in this class,
and to attorneys practIcing in the courts and
before the P..ant Office. to more than pay the
entire expenses Of reproducing the class, and
yet copies enough are retained in the Office to
meet all orders fer months to come. much
larger appropriation to carry forward the re-
production Of old drawings is asked, and the
Commissioner thinks the amount should be
at least 800, 900. When once completed, the
sales OF these reproductions would soon re-
imburse the government for their cost, and
be q sour, e of revenue for some time to come.
1t will also put aside the necessity of an in
crease in the force of examiners, as, by the
aid Of these reproductions, the present force
will be for a long time sufficient. unless there
is q great increase in the business Of the
Office. a-4 So
Tue Comm ssioner also urges the necessity
of preparing digest of all the applications
ON file in the Office. In making an examination
Of a new application the examiner has to
know all that is contained in all previous ap-
plications for inventions OF the same class. In
the class of sewing machines, for instance
5000 applications have to be examined.
Twenty five per cent. Of the time of the ex-
aminer would be saved by the existence of a
digest of all the applications on file in the
office. which now number nearly SOC. 900.
Additional room is required for the use of
the patent office. 1t is utterly impossible to
narrow quarters granted to it. Eight adj
ditional rooms are needed Immediately The
report pays just tribute to the character Of
the persons employed in the patent Office. and
regrets that the salaries paid are not sufici-
emily large to retsin the best men in the SER
vice, who are constantly leaving it for more
lucrative employment.
Accompanying the report are the following
tables showing the receipts and expenditures,
and the business Of the Office during the last
year:
STATEMENT OF MONEYS RECEIVED.
A. e.