The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-05
Sketch Of the Bureau from Its
Organizat ton.
THOMAS JEFFERSON'S PET SCHEME
The Expansion Of American Industry
Indicated.
EFFECT OF THE RECENT FIRE
WASHINGTON, nov. 2, 1877.

Tho recent Patent Oice IRE has been made the SUD-
ject OF an elaborate and carefully prepared article
upon the history Of tho oice from Its earliest days
to the present time, which will appear in tho next
number OF the Patent Office Gazetts Il was prepared
by Mr. Frank A. Burr the chie Of the Gazee division
OF the Office md fourteen neat photo-ithographic
illustrations have been furnished by Mr. Gardner, the
head OF tho draughtsman's division. Some months
the HERALD printed In connection with lengthy
lottcr from General Ellis Spear, tho Commissioners OF
Patents, to Secretary Schprz, synopsis showing the
business done by the Office up to the date Of the pub
lication and other matters OF general character
pertaining the office. The forthcoming official re-
port the Same ground In detail, and gives In
addition facts that possess particular Interest to
the general reader connected they are with this
tho most characteristic OF American institutions,
which It's infancy tho pride OF Thomas Jeier-
son, and ultimately the cause of vigorous dts
agreement between the statesman of Monticello and
some OF tho gentlemen composing tho legislative
branch Of the government
ORGANIZATION BUREAU.
The report gives tho following insight into tho Or
ganzation OF the Patent BureauBy act OF April 10.
1890, the first American patent system was founded.
Thomas Jefferson inspired and may be said to have
been the father Of the American Patent Odlco II lisa
matter OF tradition, handed down TO US from genera
lion to generation by those who love to speak Of Mr..
an application for patent made under the Arst
act he would summon Mr.. Henry Knox, OF Massachu-
set,s. who was Secretary OF War. and Mr.. Edmund
Randolph OF Virginia, ATTORNEY General, these
officials being designated by the act with tho Score
tary OF State tribunal to examine and grant patents,
aud that shese three distinguished officials would ex-
anime the application critically, scrutnizing each
point OF the specification and claims carefully and
vigorously The result of this examination was that
during the first year nsjority OF the applications
tailed pass tho ordeal only three patents wore
granted. Tho trouble between Mr. Jefferson and his
coworkers OF tho Board of Commissioners and the
patent interest represented IN Congress eliminated
In this way:-There was no provision for an appeal
the decision Of tho tribunal above named by The
40. OF $780, ana s:riGtness with which II exercised
its powers was the cause of serious complaint. In
yen.ors contendsd that these officers exercised arbi
trary powers, that they were, by education and
Of tho Patent law. The impetus given to inventive
genius by the act OF 1870 created interests hostile TO
tho power Of revision and rejection which author
ixed rapidly did They develop has IN 1898, BY
tho act OF February "a. this power was destroyed,
much the aetrimsnt Of the material interests OF the
country.
The original cost OF patent 10 tho inventor was
about s4 1t Is now $685. During the ysars IRON 100
20 1907 y single clerk IN the State department per-
formed the work OF the Patent Oaice. and dozen
plgeonholes contained tho entire records In that
year quite = noted scientific gentleman, by tho name
OF Dr. Thornton appointed ny M. Jefferson to the
office, and he thereafter styled It's superintendent
For he the autocrat OF tne Patent
ONCE, queer stories are related as To his man.
agcment OF It's AFFAIRS An official OF the department
relates that during his supernendence he conceived
himself be Invested with much discretionary power,
Tor he held 10 the maxim that The Patent law WAS
made solely Tor the encouragement OF authors and
inventors, and not collect revenue" He
would therefore exercise his judgment about
the payment Of fees, the result beng that alter
his death there quite deficit between amount
that that should have boon TO the credit
OF the patent iund IN the Treasury story ID told of
him that during the war Of 1872 when tho British
captured the city OF Washington and destroyed the
Capitol building loaded cannon was trained upon
the Patent Office for ID purpose oil destroying IL and
to have put himself before the gup, and IN
frenzy OF excitement exclaimed 'Are you English
mon, or only Goths and vsndasf TINS Is the Patent
Onioe, depository OF the ingenuity and Inventions OF
world is Interested. Would you destroy ~ II 80,
hre away let the charge pass through my body"
The effect Is SAID have been magical upon the sol
dlers saved the Patent Od1co from do
struction.
NUMBER OF PATIENTS GRANTED.
The number oil patents granted each year from 1870
| to July A, 1886, is as follows:-
la 1885, 5; In 1901, 80; IN 1872, II In 1893 20; In
17y4 ~ 1884, II in 1896, Al IN 1897, 81; IN l79S,
2S In l799 A; IN 1900, Al 1901 ~ IN 1892, s.;
lsU3 81 IN 1904, "a IN lSo6 81 10 1906 %: IN 1897,