The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-26
THE PATENT OFFICE FIRE.
AND IxTENT OF THE LOSS RESULTS LIKELY
TO FOLLOW THE DESTRUCTION OF MODELS.

At Work AMONG THE DEBnIs-cHARAcrER
AND IxTENT OF THE LOSS RESULTS LIKELY
TO FOLLOW THE DESTRUCTION OF MODELS.
WASHINGTON, Sept IS 1877.
large force OF men have been at work In the TWO
burned wings OF The Patent Onicn to-day picking out
models that wero entirely destroyed Many Of
these models In comparatively good condition,
they wero mainly composed Of iron, which escaped
melting by the heat Another large force has been at
work restoring 10 their proper places records and
books that removed yesterday. In the unburncd
portion of tho Patent Oficc employees were engaged
replacing models IN their positions. Several Of tho
bureaus have attended to their regular work. here
tolore. All the nno fresco work the Patent Ofilco
rooms has boon damaged by water.
LOSS.
careful Investigation oil the results OF the fire at
the Patent Office shows that the loss does
models contained in the model room about thou.
sand were destroyed. All Of these were valuable.
litigation were valuable as curiositcs The rejected
models, numbering 10000. were entirely destroyed
The classes OF harvcs,ers, agricultural nipple
mcns OF all descriptions and all relating TO railroads.
hydraulics and pncuma;ics OF every kind and descrip
tion and several other minor classes, including many
mocels OF considerable importance. All the models
the fine arts anu lines OF building haruwure printing
and sewing machines, incuoing the original Howe
sewing machine, were saved The original model Of
the cotton gin, which first made cotton product Of
profitable agricultural Industry, was destroyed.
PROPERTY DESTROYED.
aggregate ST. 0OO but large class OF the models
consumed will not he replaced the actual loss Will
probably not reach $500 900 5000 0o0 The
Patent ONCE has its credit with the Treasury OF the
United states, over aud above its earnings, sum
sufficient to meet this expenditure, but 1t cannot DO
used without an appropriation by Congress. About
say per cent of the models destroyed vaiu-
able evidence in patent cases. ranging from $50 TO
$780, according to the significance the IN which
they would form an essential feature Of evidence.
Some f. " Of these may and will be reproduced by the
depart nent where the drawings are sufficiently com.
plete to admit Of u.
LITIGATION LIKELY TO FOLLOW.
The fact oil the loss OF these models will give
rise endless litigation and where they would become
valuable is In determining claims to improvements In
important Inventions, which will be made itlgated
Simply because the models are lost and thus u very
viai piece OF evidence destroyed 1t should be borne
in MIND however, that tho loss OF a model does IN
any way affect the rights OF patentcc and is really
DO evidence OF the validity OF patent but their de-
siructon ID damaging for the reasons above stated.
District Commissioner bryan went to the Patent
Once to-day IN company with Commissioner Denn-
son 10 ask the officials there TO employ such laboring
men as may he recommended by the Labor Exchange
In the removal Of the rubbish, debris, &C., about the
Patent Once They we're informed that such iaborng
men had been mIIoyed, and would continue 10 be
until the work Of righting things Is completed