Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-27
The Patent Office Fire.

We take the following from the Tribune's ae-
count of the disaster in Washington;
Afer the Capitol, and the State, War, and Ma.
Wy Departments buildings, the Patent office
ranked with the Treasury buildings as the most
extensive In size and and appointments of the
Government buildings at Washington. The
original work of the burned structure begun
about twenty-five years ago. Additions have
since been made. This vast structure is known
as the Patent Office building, although the Patent
Office is only single Bureau in the Interior de-
partment. The structure receives its designation
of Patent ONCE for the reason that the building
around which the Interior department centres
was originally constructed for the Patent office
ten years before the Interior department was or
gained. The Interior department, which occu-
pies the building, includes the Indian office, Blu
Iesu of Education, Patent office, Pension Office,
Land office, Bureau Of the Surveyors of the Ter
riories and various minor bureaus under the
charge Of the Interior department. The records
OF everything relating to patents, pensions, public
lands, Indians, census, education, benevolent So
cieiies Of the District of Columbia, and railroad
land grants, are for the most part located in this
building.
The greatest damage was done in the Patent
office, and especially in the museum of models.
There were something like 100000 models, classi.
lied into almost 1900 subdivisions comprising
everything that had been collected since the de-
structop of the old Patent office in 1886. OF this
number of models, at least $1,000 are DESTROYED.
The upper rooms near the spot where the fire was
hrst discovered were filled with models that had
been drying for quarter of a century TO feed the
flames ofto-day Ii is difficult to tell what has been
lost, but It is certain that most of the notable his
torical relics contained in the building have been
saved. Among the relics saved are the Washing
ton memorials, the coat worn by jackson at New
Orleans, Dehalbs war saddle and most of the
curious articles which have been presented to the
Government by different countries, and which
were from time To time stored N tha
The ball where these models were stored was orig
lnally intended tor the exhibition Of articles OF
home manufacture, but in the progress of time
became devoted to the Patent Ohice Museum
IL was without an equal in the world, and was al
ways referred to by strangers as illustrating the
developement of American industries. IL was
possible in this room TO trace the progress of me
ehanlcal arts in this country since the foundaion
OF the Museum in 1896, and, but for the FIRE of
that year, from the foundation of this Govern
ment.
line most valuable portion of the Pateut-ofice
records were the original drawings of each patent
lhere were 1877 900 of these By hard work
however, and careful watching, the whole were
saved. Though half perhaps, were taken out Of
the room, an hour after the fire was out Ali had
been found and restored to their nlaces ever,
ABOUT Two hundred, and these it il not believed
are stoien. Inc eighty tons Of photo-lithograpbic
copies OF drawings are not specially imnor,ant To
the business oil the office. 1t is very convenient
$500 ,"~AAt ~ hot hStcsshfy. All things
sldered, 1t would be almost impossible to have a
large lire IN any Of the government buildings
which should burn such a mass of material and do
90 little dammage. No other records than those
OF the Patent office were destroyed by the fire,
The material of the Pension Office were removed
last year to another building matter of no small
consequence, IN view Of what has happened. The
various libraries were badly drenched, and much
furniture and carpeting was greatly damaged. Nc
ones nights TO patents already obtained will be
put IN peril by the fire, as none of the records
winch protect pateDtees were DESTROYED
lnere Will be very few persons thrown out oil
employment, and possibly none those engaged in
Tue MODEL rooms and among The records under the
1901 wll have temporary employment renewing
RECORDS. HE Patent Office now has a surplus of
SoV,oOO IN the Treasury, this W Ill be amply sutIi
eent 70 restore all records. 1t is thought best 10
reproduce and supply all principal losses. The
works OF the Departments will not be seriously
interrupted.
All the models in fine arts TOYS, firearms shin
stoves. lamps, gas fittings, leather working print.
ing, furniture, philosophical instruments and
builder hardware, are safe and complete The 20.
900 rejected models are entirely DESTROYED The,
were merely valuable as curiosities. Of the So.
600 models of patented inventions, at least ten pc
cent Of them were valuable not as creating an,
doubt as 10 the value of the invention, but as eyi
dence 10 contested eases, Their value for thi
service would range from to $40 to 81 600
according to the importance Of the case in whicl
they may be used as an important elemen
VI testimony. The class Of models destroyed com