The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-06-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The Patent Oface-Mans Invention Great
er than Woman's-Why Light
Houses, Etc, Etc.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 14th, 1886.
Messrs. Editors Your attractive paper is read,
not only for its bright and clean appearance, but
also for its intrinsic excellence. You publish SO
much useful information, both instructive and
amusing, that its hebdomadal visits are auxiously
looked for and its contents eagerly devoured.
Being in a situation recently by which to obtain
information from the highest source, lay before
your readers some facts in relation to the Patent
Office. 1t is located on F street between Seventh
and Ninth streets. Itsimmense room is so arranged
to afford the greatest convenience and comfort,
with great economic advantage. Here are models
of inventions of the most useful kind and some
that have never been of real benefit. Like some
books that caused the author great labor yet have
fallen STILL born from the press.
Among the many great things that make the
United States superior to all other nations is the
fact of its many inventions. In all its history it
has issued 333, 493 patents. In the year 1885 the
United States issued 1881 patents; England,
16,l01 patents; France 1854 patents to July 23d
Spain, about 500 patents; Germany, 4, 01Spatents;
Austria, 2,470 patents Italy, in 1884, issued L.
$50 patents. Russia, in 1885, issued Isl patents.
From these reliable figures it appears that the
United States issued in 1885 within six thousand
as many patents as the combined nations of Eng
land, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy and
Russia.
Agriculture has the largest number of models of
all other departments of invention.
The rolls of the Patent Office show that not much
more than one per cent. of all the patents issued
annually in the United States are to women
There is not one model of an important invention
by a woman on exhibition at the Patent Office
Such as are there very small and simple de-
vices of no particular Importance. Of the articles
used by women, such as corsets, glove fasteners,
sewing machines, washing machines, pins, needles,
churns shoe butoners, fans, fruit jars button fas
teners, pianos and other musical instruments,
music holders, patterns and the many, very many
other articles made for women almost exclusively,
SO per cent. are the inventions Of men. 1t has
been said but cannot say how truthfuy, that
woman in Washington county, Nd, invented the
carriage and wagon break for the wheels.
Let it be understood that this does not make
woman inferior to man intellectually. She is the
weaker vessel, to whom St. Peter said the husband
should give honor, only as to her physical nature.
See how that is providentially illustrated by the
employments of women. The men have the rough,
heavy, stern occupations of life, involving great
physical strength. The true reason of the differ
ence may lie in the peculiarities of women as diff
fering from men. Their minds are quick with in
tuitive perceptions. Inventions require patient
thought with great deliberation. woman is a
rapid thinker. In the affairs of life she sees a
conclusion as by inspiration. The difference is
that woman will set the world ON fire while a
man is lighting his torch.
Another singular fact about this wonderful coun-
try of ours is lighthouses. There rein the world
1901. In the last fifty years they have been
ouadrupIed. The United States has 632; Great
Britain, $50; Canada, 45l; France, pol; the
United States having about one. third of the whole
number. If your readers would listen to the num-
Der of periodicals published in the world they
would be amazed still more at the large excess in
our country But of this more anon.
Congress-, like all large bodies particularly
where there are lazy factors in it, moves slowly.
Of all cities Washington is the most desirable for
a residence No marvel that so many who come
here wish to stay. Its health is very good.
OCCASIONAL.