The Indianapolis journal., 1896-05-05
THE PATENT OFFICE.
Points from the Annual Report Of
~COmmissiOneF Seymour.


WASHINGTON. May 4-The report of
Commissioner of Patents John S. Seymour
for the year ending Dec. 81, 1895. was SUBJ
mitted TO Congress to-day 1t shows that
aggregate receipts from all sources during
the year were $l.245.247 expenditures, $l.os4.-
1876. In every year since 1861 there has been
a surplus over all expenditures. During the
year there were issued p. .s9s patents and de-
signs. exclusive of fifty-nine reissues and
inclusive of 2.O49 issued to foreigners; 1899
trade marks and three prints registered and
46Se9 applications filed for patents. trade
marks, labels. prints. etc. There were also
1885 patents which expired and 3,42S patents
forfeited for nonpayment of final fees The
four foreign countries leading in the num-
ber of patents issued to their citizens by
this government are England, IA; Germany.
539; Canada, 302 and france, 202. In the
United States the States leading in the num-
ber of patents issued TO their citizens are
New York, 1859; Pennsylvania, 2,2O; Ilii-
nois, 1876: Massachusetts, 1888, and Ohio
1.423 In proportion to population. however
Connecticut heads the list with one to every
9N people.
The Commissioner recommends the enact
ment into law of certain rules made year
ago to prevent more than six months delay
by applicants in paying further attention to
nd sner aon GsSes aireaay acted on by the of1ce
where there have been intention delays in
cases pending more than five years. The
rules are. he says, open to attack in the
courts. He also recommends the enactment
of the bill amending the patent laws pre-
pared by the patent committee of rhe Amer
lean Bar Association and introduced in Con-
gress.
Concerning the publication of the office
Gazette, which mas In recent years involved
many complications and last year resulted
in a congressional inquiry the Commissioned
decries the lack of modern process in its
production, the entire work not being done
by one firm, and urges, in event of a change
being advisable, that contract be author
lied for printing II for longer term than
one year, in view of the expensive plant re-
quired.
Reports have been received from thirty
two foreign countries, including Great Brit
ain, Germany, Russia and France, and the
total number of patents issued by these
governments from the earliest period up to
Dec. 81 last aggregate 9S1.yo1, against 562 ASS
so far issued by the United States Prior 10
1870 the United States issued nearly half as
many patents as all foreign nations COM
bined. Since 1870 Ii has issued more than
half as many as all foreign nations COM
bined.
During the past twenty-five years twenty
five inventors have been granted more than
one hundred patents each. the whole num-
Der granted to them within that period be-
ing 1884. In these, Wizard" Thomas A.
Edison. of Orange. N j., leads with III;
Elihu Thomson. the electrician. coming next
The. greatest activity Of the year was shown
In detail inventions and accessories TO BIZ
cycles and in machines and processes for
making the parts. Pneumatic tires have at
tracted the inventor, because of their now
almost universal use suikies as well "a
bicycles.