Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-09
AN INVENTOR.

When the Office was removed from the State
department it occupied a building on the site
of the general post Office for some years This
was just before the 1912 incident Even at that
time the Office was of small pretentions and up
to 1873 but 1919 patents had been issued, a
great majority of which were for agricultural
implements. In these days more are issued
every month than were issued during the first
forty years of the republic.
A MEMORABLE YEAR
in the history of the Office was that of 1886.
from which year the real organization of the
bureau dates. Before that time it was in en-
bryo and there was little system. 1t was in this
year that the first commissioner was appointed,
and though the bureau remained under the
supervision of the State department it was
more independent. In those days drawings
were seldom used-at present they are used
almost entirely-and models were required with
every application for a patent. This was the
case Tor many years afterward, but when in
ventors began to increase it was found that
this plan was lmpracticable, and SO the system
of working drawings now in use was adopted
although models in some instances where a
better knowledge of the workings of the device
Is necessary are required.
THE FIRE OF 1886
was most disastrous one for the patent Office.
A big appropriation had just been made by
Congress to be used.in enlarging the work of
the bureau when the fire destroyed over two
thousand models as well as many valuable pa
pers. Among these latter was a volume of
original drawings by Robert Fulton, iiiustrat-
ing his great invention which was then revolu-
tonizing commerce. Many Of the models de-
stroyed were replaced in after years
and now occupy place in the magnifi-
cent model hall of the present building. which
was commenced just previous to the breaking
out of the war. Since then number of wings
have been added, forming hollow square, in
the center Of which Is q court, which forms a
refreshing picture to the weary workers in the
building. There was.
ANOTHER FIRE
in 1877, which originated in the model room,
where there was an accumulation of over
200, 600 models made of wood as dry as finder
aud only needing a spark to ignite. They had
been placed in fragile cases made of light pine
and the fire spread rapidly. 1t started in the
morning and the clerks worked with a will to
save the building. The fire was confined to the
upper story of the western and northern wings
Many OF the models were burned. more de-
stroyed by the water and n number broken by
falling timbers. This loss awakened the au-
thorities to the benefits to be derived from the
use OF
THE NEW SYSTEM
OF preserving proper record Of the patents
issued. This system was already in use to a
certain extent. but after the fire it became gen.
eral, and now every patent issued has been
photo-lithographed, and copies are kept on
hand for distribution. This has grown into an
immense business, as nearly::25 900 patents are
granted every year. These photo-lithographs
are uniformly by Ii inches in size, and. besides
the drawings, a full description of the inven-
ton is given, making small pamphlet From
these little books good idea Of tho patent
may be obtained, and they are of wonderful
assistance to people unable to come to the city
to examine the various patents already granted
upon devices in which they are interested.
THE STORY OF PATENT.
How the application is made, how it is ex-
amined, passed upon and finally granted or
rejected, as the case may be. and the reasons,
requae some details in the telling just at this