The Helena independent., 1893-08-24
A REDUCTION OF PRICES.
Tho Advantage That Accrues to Manufae-
turer and User In Low Prices.

2Nc Advantage InnJ aCCrucb "
turcr and User In Low Prices.
It is time that in certain eases sweeping
reduction should be made. 1t Ia proper--ii
is nec,lful to stimulate research and inven-
ton, that the man who makes n desirable
machine should profit largely by it. True,
our patent Office confers no protection be-
yond the mere issuance of a paper, and any
thief who wants to steal an idea can take
It II he has money enough to embroil the
inventor in suit, for the patent office,
whose decision should be final will do
nothing to sustain him against his adver-
sary, but even allowing this patent Esu-
ally insures success to an inventor who has
made anything that the public really wants.
There are two considerations, however,
in the singleness Of right that is implied In
q patent. One is that tho inventor shall
profit by his work, and the other ia that the
public shall likewise profit by it. The one
gains money; the other pays it to him III
exchange for his new convenience. If he
does not intend to use his right of sole
manufacture, he might rs well have kept
still about his discovery and saved the
money that the process of securing a pat
ent must cost him. Formerly it seems to
have been customary among inventors to
satisfy themselves with moderate return
of prosperity for their work, but latterly
they are disposed to regard the public as
made for their enrichment. In most COM
mercial or speculative essays it is thought
to be we'll if gain of or s per cent n year
is realized, which would imply an increase
of that degree in the selling price over tho
cost price of the articles or securities that
arc dealt in, but some of the manufactur-
ers, as of typewriters and bicycles, appear
to think that o profit anything short Of 200
per cent is little enough on each machine.
a typewriter that costs 500 in the mar
ket is made for about S15. Add to this u
liberal estimate for office rent, the employ
of agents, advertising ard so ON, and it is
still difficult to see the JUSTICE of charging
such Il sum. Moreover, the machine is
made expensive to it's owner after he gets
it. Every rod, bolt, screw, wheel or what
not that has to DO replaced in the natural
Wear of the instrument is sold for twice the
amount Of money that would be charged
for similar bit of mechanism devoted TO
any other purpose. Even bit of ribbon
charged with ink costs 81. 1t is plain that
those who make typewrters want to be
rich and want to be rich quick. This is not
the case alone with the makers of type
writers. 1t is whispered that bicycles that
put together, and to look at them one would |
be inclined to admit that as quite possible. |
There are other mechnnisms, used in certain |
trades and lessknown to the general public, |
where the profits are held to approach the
The effect of the expiration of patents On
things for which there is popular demand
has been to cause an immediate slump
in prices, because the ideas on which money
has been made then become free to rivals.
they are still exorbitant
ly high-organs, sewing machines and
watches have thus come within the power
Of purchase by people of moderate means,
and wa believe in no case has disaster
come to the manufacturers in consequence
of this popularization of prices. The re
duction of market value has been offset b.
an increase in the volume of material sold
Brooklyn Eagle.