The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-21
FAx,s FROM WASHINGTON.

81 FAX'S FROM WASHINGTON.
PATENT OFFICE AFFAIRS BoRsr's R.
R.-GEN. BUTLER's SILVER BILL SPEECH
HON. J. AMBLER SMITH.
.B WASHINGTON, D. c., March Us.
Editors of Valley Virginian:
To me, there is nothing SO pleasant as to
hear the people of the Shenandoah Valley
spoken Of in commendatory terms. And to-
day 1 had the pleasure Of listening to a
compliment to some Valley people, from
gentleman whose silent appreciation OF any
class OF citizens would be valuable, but
when outspoken is invaluable. had occa-
sion to drop into the office Of Maj. Jno. W..
Babson, Appointment Clerk of the Patent
Office, in search Of an ''item," concerning
the restoration OF the Models. The Major
being temporarily absent, his right hand
man P. W. Perry, Esq, asked me to be
seated, and in course of conversation de-
sired to know what paper I represented
Upon my replying the VALLEY VIRGIN
IAN:' Of Staunton, all official dignity was
driven away, and for half an hour, most
pleasant chat followed. Mr.. Perry was,
soon after the surrender, Supervisor Of In
ternal Revenue for the States of Florida,
Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virgin
ia and West Virginia. At that time recon
struction had not fully taken place in all
the sections his duties called him, and the
disposition OF many persons was decidedly
IN favor of tabooing Mr.. Perry or any other
Federal Officer. But the chivalrous, hospit-
able citizens Of Winchester, Harrisonburg
and Stanton, were honorable exceptions.
In the language Of Mr.. Perry, virginia
hospitality and courtesy cropped out at all
points in the State, naming Richmond,
Lynchburg, Danville, Charlottesville and
Norfolk, but nowhere so spontaneous and
unaffected as in the Valley, particularly
Harrisonburg and Stanton After many
inquiries concerning the whereabouts and
success in life Of numbers OF prominent
citizens Of the Ito use his language ''great,.
productive and glorious garden spot OF the
world Mr.. Perry announced it as proba-
BILE that this summer he should pay flying
visit to the Valley Of Virginia and renew his
acquaintance with those yet living, who in
those days treated him scripturally las
stranger within the gates" Mr.. Perry
now holds an important position in the
Patent Office, having charge OF the rolls,
that he fills the position creditably alike to
himself and the Government, those who
know his business qualifications need not
be told. The arrival Of Major Babson, caus-
ed most pleasant interview to terminate,
and subjected the Major to the torture which
an interviewer only can inflict. The Major
was as gallant in peace as in war, and can
| furnish the readers OF the VIRGINIAN with
the following facts. The number OF models,
| which the casual observer pronounced ''de-
stroyed" 'sonly fit to sell as old iron,'
damaged beyond repair'' &C. &C., number
now over l4,509, and II Congress makes the
appropriation which Gen. Ellis Spear, Com
missioner of Patents deems necessary, fully
1O, 1000, more Of injured ones than those that
will be restored when the appropriation al
! ready made of $4,000, is expended, will be
4 placed in the cases good as new. A num-
\ Der Of Congressman visit the Model repair
4 rooms daily, and they all express astonish-
| ment at the immense amount ct valuable
! work performed. It must be borne in mind
that for days after the fire it was thought
. that not over 1900, or 1900 models could
be saved. The truth is, that Gen. Spear
and Major Babson, with Coils Richmond,
Ford, and Hawkins, OF the Model Room,
have no little pride in performing the Won
derful duties the fire entailed upon them
l Major Babson piloted me through the work
rooms, a brief description of which was Civ
en- in my last letter, and showed me many
Items which space will not allow me to
transmit After having made the tour OF
the work shops, tie Major said FAX, there
! is one feature of this business which l wisf
4 YOU to take look at, whereupon, he con-
Quoted me to a door opening upon the shed
! roof Of pine wood, which covers the G Street
and 9th Stree: wing OF the grand Patent
4 Office building. 1 enquired Of the Major
why Secretary Schurz allowed this fire traI
! to remain so long, why he did not at once
not only place the treasures of the Patent
4 Office in place of security, thereby, giving
employment to hundreds of needy mechan
les ct Washington? The Majors reply was
brief and to the point as follows: "Con
gress has not as yet made the necessary ap
i preparation. Secretary Schurz has been urg
ing them, as to the imperative Eecesst.
of prompt action in this matter but from som'
inexplicable cause no definite action has ye
been taken.'' When the reader is inform
Il ed that the Patent Office has two over tao
millions of earnings in the United State
Treasury, and about one half of that sam
building is covered with shed roof, such
one, as Mr.. A. NJ. Bowman, Geo. Chris
| man, or Hon. John Il. Lewis, would dis
dain to keep their blooded stock under, thos
I 100000 Of dollars locked up and Con
E gress holding the key and will not unlocl
!, it, wonder if the reader feels like me? Viz
1 giving vent to an expression such as this
v ''dog such a Congress" 1t is burnin
: shame that the patentees of this county ar
i to be subjected to such an indignity. Til
n money that is in the Treasury is the none
e they have paid there through the Paten
n Office for the Letters Patent on their inver
e tions. The result Of their brain work in tn
IS shape Of models, draughts, specifications St
It are in jeopardy every moment; because as
e have before said, spark on the finder bo
! roof in all probability would in short tim
J, reduce to ashes the labors of over 10000
+ citizens of the United State entailing
If loss which can only be expressed as irrerar'
q BILE.
l., Isn'tit mathematical maxim, that e.
), tremes meet of course 1t is. Surveying
d mathematical /? surveying is conducted b
l. engineers. engineers conduct engines
y the Borst Narrow Gauge Railroad will 500
i be built, because ertremes meet. In 9TH
d words, the twenty odd miles OF the Was
y ington, Cincinnati and st. Louis Mario
.. Gauge railroad, already constructed Tor nea
'o1 " SOY in Rockingham and Augusta counti