Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-27
THE COTTON.TIE PATENT.
Opposition to the ExtensiOD OF the
COOK Patent-AetiOn OF the Ex.
change.

- Z
OppOsitiOn TO IA Exiension Of the
COOK Patent-AeflOn OF the tx.
change.
At IL o'clock to-day a meeting Of the
Memphis Cotton Exchange was held to
protest against congress extending the
Cook cotton.tie patent. The object and
purpose OF the meeting are seen in the
following petition, which is nov being
circulated ana receiving the signatures
Of many Of the citizens Of Memphis:
To the Honorable Robert B. Vance, Chairman
Of House Committee on Patents, house Of
Representatives, United States
DEAR SIR-The undersigned respect.
fully urge their solemn objection to the
passage of any favorable or Affirmative
action by your committee on the applica.
ton of Frederick Cook, Of New Orleans,
La, for an enabling act to authorize the
commissioner Of patents to consider a
further extension Of the said Cooks
patent, granted March 2, 1858, for what
is commonly known as the Open Slot
Cotton Tie Buckle, and for the following
reasons:
First-That said patent has been once
extended, and has had lull duration aud
force for tRenty-one years, and the public
have granted every opportunity granted
to any inventor for the exclusive protec.
ton and profit contemplated by the pat.
ent laws
Secoud-That this patent has been
abused by it's owners through one of its
details in combination with other patents
to m~onopolize our cotton tie business,
while it is, as a whole, OF itself, not o
practicable or useful invention.
Third-Tbat the large profits which
have arisen from the monopoly referred
to, are far more, and in the greatest rsrt
owing to the business sagacity which
lead to the combinatic q of various paten.
ices with the said Cook pateu,, thus per.
feeling a practicable buckle, and the ex.
ecuiive ability which said combination
manifested in introducing said buckle.
aud iron ties. rather than 10 the entirely
inefficient device specified by Mr.. Cooks
said patent.
Fourth--As said Frederick Cook did, Of
bis own v%olition, as he himself states,
part with his said original patent Of
March 2, 1858, and its extension Of
March 2, 1872, for considerations, which
be states, seemed to him, under all the
circumstances, best for his then interests,
that he was then fully compensated Tor
an invention Of Inferior value except as
made greater by the combination here
named.
Fillh-That the further extension OF
] the said Cook patent will be an intolera.
e BILE burden upon the Southern people,
{ perpetrating a monopoly which will
/. otherwise shortly expire if The represent.
atives of their interests will be firm in
; their preservation against those of pat.
I ertees who have bad every opportunity
that a generous public could consistently
, grant for their enrichment.
The only argument Mr.. Cook can sus.
( tain is that the extension sought is to
! his interest; against them are the inter.
ests Of every planter and merchant, and
a all interested in the cotton crop OF the
Southern States.
If these m%onopolizlng patents are per-
| mitted to expire, the manufacture of ties
. will sustain itself as does every other
. great interest and the profits now sought
to be perpetuated to monopolists, will
accrue to the Southern people through
the manufacture at home at reduced
i rates OF ties equal to any now made else
! where.
The following resolutions we're pre-
scented for the consideration of the ex.
change;
Whereas, 1t appears that an extension
for seven yesrs Of one of the fundemen-
tai patents for cotton bale ties is now
sought from congress; and. whereas,
> This patent has already been once ex.
tended, and has had a duration Of twenty.
! one years; and, whereas, This patent has
: been of o value to the owners,
T.. enriching them at the expense of our
: Southern planters; therefore, be it
Resolved, That this body respectfully
requests that the committee on patents
: will suspend report on the petition Of
Fred Cook, now pending, until the next
session of congress, thereby giving the
!. cotton planting community time to be
4, nearu rom.
7 Resolved, That this body solemnly
protests against any further extension Of
any patents on cotton bale Ties.
Resolved, That a copy Of these reso
buttons be sent to Hon, r B Vance,
chairman house committee on patents;
10 Hon. Newton Booth, chairman Of
senate committee on patents; 10 Hon
Isham G. Harris, Hon. James E. Bailey
and 10 Hon. Casey Young, and also to
all the cotton exchanges Of America.
D Josiah Patterson, as attorney for Cook,
aud j W. Clapp as attorney for the pro
test, made speeches, after which the
resolutions we're unanimously adopted
and the meeting adjourned.