Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-11-10


illustrated, and some interesting Incl
dents Of its early growth are worth re
cording. During the years from 179
to 1902 single clerk in the State de
partment performed the work Of tn
patent Office, and dozen pigeon-hole
contained the entire records. In tina
year quite a noted scientific gentleman
by the name Of DR.. Thornton was ap
pointed by Mr.. Jefferson to the Office
and he was thereafter styled its "super
intendcnt." For twenty.six years III
was the autocrat Of the patent Office, and
some queer stories are related as to his
management of it's affairs. An official oi
the department relates that during his
superintendent he conceived himself
to be invested with much discretionary
power, for he held the maxim that the
patent law was made solely for the en-
couragement Of authors and inventors,
and not to collect revenue" He would
therefore exercise his judgment about
the payment Of fees, the result being,
that after his death there was quite q
deficit between the amount that was
and that which should have been to the
credit Of the patent fund in the treasury.
His successor, in commenting upon the
fact, conveys the impression that it was
the iberality with which the doctor dealt
with patentees and not any personal dis
honesty on his part which caused the
deficit. This lack of system, however,
brought about good results, for it in
duced the passage of law requiring all
patents to be recorded, which had never
before been done. During DR.. Thorn
toms administration Of the Office it was
no unusual thing to find the doctor CO.
patentee, while he was determining
all questions which might arise under
the law and the practice which he him.
self dictated.
DR.. Thornton took great interest in
the Office, and he dictated its action with
a power that knew no master. The
duties Of his position not being onerous
he conducted an extended correspond
ence upon scientific subjects with the
patent officials of the Old World and
scientists generally, which he left rs o
part OF the archives Of the Office when
he died, Gas monument of his fidelity
to and interest In the advancement of
American mechanics" A story is told
Of him that during the war of 1919,
when the British captured the city Of
Washington and destroyed the capitol
building, loaded cannon was trained
upon the patent Office for the purpose
Of destroying it, and he is said to have
put himself before the gun and in
frenzy of excitement exclaimed "Are
you Englishmen or only Cloths and
vandals? This is the patent Office, a
of the ingenuity and inven-
ions of the American nation, in which.
he whole civilized world is interested.
Would you destroy it? If SO, fire away,
md let the charge pass through my
,ody !" The effect is said to have been
magical upon the soldiers and to have
'aved the patent Office from destruction.
The rapid increase of the patent busi-
less since 1885 can be readily seen by
of the figures given in the
wo statements of the business of the
'ffice. From 1890 to 1887, period of
orty-six years, II, AS patents were grant
I'd, yielding profit to the Office of
'156, 8O7.73. From January 1, 1887, to
september 80, 1877, period of about
orty-one years. there were issued 192,-
32 patents, including reissues, which,
ogether with the other business, placed
o the credit of the patent fund on Sep
ember 80, 1877, 81, OF, 7,94O.51.