The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-09-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.


One of the busiest dcpartmcnts under
the government is the Patent Office. The
amount of work that is done by this
department can be appreciated only by a
Trip through the Office and an explanation
or the details. In the past TWENTY-FIVE
years the granting of patents has grown to
an extent that is astonishing, and indicates
what progress is being made in the
sciences 10y. Young America. For the
l!rSI torty-SiX years after its orpaniZo-
'ion TIC number OF patents issued averaged
ohly Two hundred and fifty per year, but
thc Once Is now issuing patents at the rate
ol I'VE hundred Il week, or twice as many
III one week as it formerly issued in wear.
Inc lotal number issued up to this date is
'oi'o@i. Inc Office, after paying its own
expenses, has balance TO its credit of 81. =
945, ,lO5.iS in the Treasury. 1t is the only
oranch OF government that pays its own
expenses, and is not Il burden to the DcoDlc
by way OF taxation. A man with a
| mechanical turn Of mind could intensely
| ENJOY weeks and months among the
o?O,ooo models and drawings 50 convc-
hientIy arranged and displayed in this i'm
mcnSc department.. George Washington
ana THOMAS Jefferson both received patents
| on improvements in plOughS"
IN former letter | alluded to the friend
| Ships That are so often abruptly broken
among the officials. No matter how
| patroniZinG and humble an applicant NAV
DC, The moment he gets in he assumes all
the dignity and importance his position is
entitled to, and brooks no insinuations.
| About the time Congress adjourned SCna-
tor !iarfiS, OF Tennessee, went up to sec
inc President about an appointment in his
State, which some Of his constituents were
Interested in. lie stated his case, and the
IrcH"cmt replied: "Wc!l, it seems to me
That loH have good deal Of assurance to
com" mere asking for an appointment when
You voted against my man Matthew'S "
The Senator got hot in a second. "lil
have You know Mr.. President" he said, ,
'llIil' IL IS none OF your business what DO
or d0 not do in the Senate. | am the
master, Sit, of my own actions there, as
you are here. didn't come here asking
any lANCr OF You on any personal grounds
The people Of the State OF Tennessee,
whom represent, asked me to do this, and
th3t Is why ! cam" here. You can do as
YOU d please, sir, aljuut the matter; but
sir, | want ii distinctly understood that
"hHl l do rs Senator is beyond your
jurisdiction" and the iratc SrmatDr lett in
Il hurry and declares he will never speak to
the President again.
Treasury officials are having considerable
quiet fun growing out OF the recent bond
Calls. IL IL we'll known about the depart
meat that TrcnSurCr Jordan, who is now
Mt tie Arkansas Hot Springs, is volcntl,
opposed 10 bond calls on general principles
and III Il recent letter TO Il personal Grcn(
he fairly hOWlCd because SO much of tn,
, surplus has been ordered cut Of the Treas
ury. At the present rate Of redemption o
bonds, Tl5, GOO, 900 per month, the redeem
able part of the public debt will be wipe,
+ out IN about seven months, there being h,l
, #lOI, 1000, 600 Of three per cent. bonds We
{ outstanding and subject to CALL
, In one Of the appropriation bills pusscc
, at tie lnSt session of Congress is IN item o
n $l9 Ior pay to the Fourth Regiment O
- Vermont Militia for services at the battle O
PmtSburgh, (wnr of lSl2.) Rather tard,
!, justice, but better lalc than never. II.