The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-20

fort and happiness of man. Big fortunes
have been made out of these inventions,
but, withal, the cost of hundreds OF
things that everybody uses has been re-
duced many fold by the wonderful facility
of production. In some instances the
millions" in the imagination OF Colonel
Sellers have been realized, though not by
the colonel himself
Thousands of small patents" con-
finued Commissioner Mitchell, are
granted to mechanics employed IN tne
endless shops and manufactures OF the
ment of machine and gets 1t patented.
1t may be little thing, but his employer
for aa'p' its use anu ali RAys over New Eng
land and other manufacturing states
there are men who have regu-
lar incomes from this source, aside
from their earnings, which enable them to
live in comfort and even luxury. L have
practiced in patent law. and remember
that in one Of my early cases, when was
but STRIPPING, was opposed by an able
and experienced attorney from New York.
In the interest of my client took the
ground that these small patents ought not
to be granted. Young man, said my an
tagonist, let me tell you that these little
patented inventions, which to you seem SO
trihing, are the wealth of Connecticut
have lived long enough to learn that he
told the truth"
The inventive genius of the people of
the United States outstrips that of any
other nation on the globe. England ap-
proaches US most nearly in this respect.
Every other country is out OF sight in the
per cent. of patents issued to population.
Looking at different sections of our own
country, we find that 10,676-nearly half
of all the patents issued last year-were to
the five states of Massachusetts,, New
York, Connecticut. New Jersey and Penn
sylvania. Twenty-four other states of the
West and South did not have as many in
the aggregate as New York. Connecticut
took out last year one patent to every 700
population; Mississippi one to 23,574. 1t
will be readily understood that this dis
parity is due to local conditions. The peo-
pie who operate and invent machinery are
not those who raise corn and cotton.
Formerly it was required that every ap-
plication for patent must be accompanied
by sample if the article was small, or a
miniature model, complete in all its parts,
if it exceeded certain dimensions. The
fire in the patent office in 1877 destroyed
124, 900 of these models, and this require
ment was soon after discontinued. The
considerations that moved to this change
were the cost to inventors and the rapid
accumulation of models, involving the
question of space for storage. Drawings
have been substituted, models being only
furnished when called for by the bureau.
There remain about 100000 old models
which are kept in glass cases and serve as
sort Of museum for the entertainment of
pilgrims.
OF all the applications for patents about
So per cent. are granted. Reflections are
upon the ground that the principal or ap-
plication is covered by patents already
issued or that the device is trivial. 1t is
true, however, that among the patents that
have been most profitable are many upon
m oil and caery,inUlv inSiupificapt articaq
in everyday use. The invention of some
little thing that everybody buys and keeps
on buying is as good to its owner as gold
mine-tar better than most of them.
Many simple mechanical toys that catch
the eyes of the children and help to ill
their stockings at Christmas have made
men rich.
The number of patents issued to those
who have attempted the solution of some
mechanical problem is almost beyond be-
lief. Probably the largest number for any
one thing have been granted for devices to
mitigate the horrors of the family wash
ing day." More than $500 patents have
been granted for washing machines. Not
one in fifty of them has ever come into
general use, and fewer still have proved to
be of real, practical value. 1t requires
about as much ''elbow grease" and causes
as much backache to operate one of them
as it does to rub the clothes on wash
board in the good old way. Wrecks of
these machines, in all stages of decrepi-
tude, may be seen in back yards and wood
sheds all over the country, particularly in
the rural districts. If men have not sue
ceeded in tightening the labor of wife and
mother in this respect, il cannot be said
that they have not tried. Scores OF other
things might be mentioned on which in
various forms there are patents by the
hundreds. If thousand fail, the next
| man thinks that he has solved the ques-
| ton. No machine or appliance is so per-
| feet that somebody does not think he can
improve it.
Up to 1878 more than two hundred pa
| tents had been issued for "velocipedes,
| as they were then called, Since that time
| thrice as many more have been granted
upon this class of vehicles. The first
bike" patented consisted simply of two
wheels tandem, connected by bar which
the rider bestrode. He pushed himself
| along by putting his feet upon the ground.
| There was no pedal to give motion to the
wheels.
AS to money in patents, it is hard to tell
whether patent is going to be profitable
| or not. Some of the greatest inventions
have been sneered at in the patent office,
and some of the smallest ideas bring in
| the biggest returns. A common needle
| threader gave its inventor $4,000 year
| for many years. and a millionaire travelled
around the world not long ago who got his
| lortuue Out OI patent sLDe DuttOu.
| The inventor of the roller skate
made over 100000 out OF the
idea, and the rubber tip which you
use at the end of your lead pencil
brought in 10000 to the Englshman who
conceived it. The children of the United
States are ready to pay large amounts to
the lucky man who is able to think up
new toy for them, and there is a depart
ment of patent toys in the patent office.
The Dancing Jim Crow paid its inventor
| $4,000 per annum for long time, and a
little ball with rubber attached to it
brought another man $4,000 per annum
for years. A jointed wooden snake
/ paid its inventor more than $4,000,
and another wooden figure brought in
half million. Nearly everything you see
/ in use has been at one time or another
| patented. and some of the most insignit-
: cant things have been worth fortunes. 1t
( is said that the inventor of the stylo-
graphic pen made 100000 out of it.
Electrical inventions have brought in mill
ions to many. Telephone Bell is rich be-
! yord the dreams of avarice. Edison is
! ~