Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-09

deal Of space outside the department build
ing now. The pension bureau has its own
big building in City Hall Square and the
Indian office, the census Office. the bureau
OF education and the geological survey &C.
cupy quarters In rented buildings in differ
ent parts Of the city. Through the years of
stuck to its old quarters. And to most Of
the visitors to Washington the Interior De-
partment building has always been the pat
ent office" 1t is the patent office no longer
The vaulted ceilings with their frescoing in
red and blue will look down on the big
glass cabinets no more. The cases have
been arranged in the bare halls Of the big
onlce building, square, red and ugly, erected
few years ago half a square from the In
terror Department on G street for the use
OF the city post Office. In this building are
the clerks of the unfortunate record and
pension division of the War Department
survivors of the Ford's Theater disaster.
A Great Historic Value.
The collection of models has great his
toric value and it seems pity to store 1t in
building which Is not fire-proof or even
built OF stone. The loss which the govern
ment suffered in the fires of 1886 and 1877
was irreparable. The first destroyed all OF
the collection Of models. The second de,
strOyed $1,000 Of the accepted models. Still
the government has in its possession many
original models of great inventions and
many of the early models of others. The
model Of the first sewing machine patented
was destroyed in the fire Of 1886, but the
model Of the second. patented in 1872. is still
In possession Of the government. 1t is now
at the worlds fair, where most OF the inter-
esting models have been taken to be part
Of the exhibit of the patent office, iliustrat-
Ing American progress in invention.
The honor Of being the father of the pat
ent system Is claimed by many. Patents
were granted in England even before they
were granted by the American colonies. The
biographer of Joseph Jencke, who came to
Massachusetts from England in 1872. claims
for him that he suggested the patent system
av,1 thn< IL ia to- sal
chusetts on his suggestion. The biographer
OF John Stevens an American engineer who
Is said to have devoted his life to expert
ment for the common good claims that he
of a patent law in 1790 and that the COM
mittee to which the petition was referred
reported the law of April 10. 1870. The jour
nails OF Congress show that the proposition
for a national patent law was made to Con-
gress by Mr.. Madison and Charles Pinckney:
and before that time two inventors. David
Ramsay and John Churchill. April Is. 1lS9.
had petitioned Congress for patents on In
ventions which they had made. 1t Is claimed
for Nathan Read. the inventor OF multi
tubular boiler" by his son that he was the
hrst petitioner for patent. Read was
afterward member of Congress. Who
ever was the first petitioner. the first patent
was issued July 81. 1850. to Samuel Hopkins
! for making pot and pearl ashes. 1t was
signed by George Washington, President:
Thos. Jefferson, Secretary of State, and
JOnn RanuOlpn, Attorney GeNeTai SOlne
years ago this original patent certificate was
offered to the government by the descend
ants of Samuel Hopkins-of course, for
considerat.on-but though the Secretary Of
the Interior recommended the purchase,
Congress did not make the necessary ap-
preparation. Some day probably this curious
relic will be added to the many which make
the model room one of the most interesting
places in Washington to sightseers. 1t is
to be hoped that when this is done the mod
els will be displayed In some more suitable
hall or In building constructed for their
keeping.