The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-15
THE PRODUCTS OF
RARE GENIUS
Developments Of laveniions In the Last
Seven Years.
STATE OF CONNECTICUT RANKS FIRST
The Report Of the Commissioner OF
Patents-- Tho Establishment OF a
Patent Bar Advooated--seven Years
Of the Bicycie--E Estimated Number
OF wheets Produced in This Coun-
try List Year More Than 100000.

Washington, March 14.'-The annual
report of the commissioner of patents
for the calander year 1897 WAS laid be-
fore congress today. In 1887 f5,661 ap-
pllcations for patents were received
and In addition a hirge number of ap-
plications for designs, trade marks, etc.
The patents granted amounted in num-
her to 23, ,72q, including designs, 50 pat
ents were reissued, 1871 trade marks
registered and IA labels and 16 prints
The number of patents that expired
was 1925. The total expenditures were
S1,122,S43, the receipts over eNpendl-
lures, S2h2, ,79S. The total balance TO the
credit of the patent office in the treas
ury of the United States on January
/, 1898, was %,971,43S.
In proportion to population more pa
tents were issued to citizens of Connec-
ticut than to those of any other state
lone to every 1856 inhabitants. Next
in order are the following: Massachu-
setts, District of Columbia, New Jer-
sey, Rhode Island, New York.
To residents of England 7O6 patents
were issued; to residents of Germany,
551; Canada, 2S6, and France 222 The
number of applications received for
examination during the year was
greater than for any other in the his
tory of the office, yet tile report says
there was no increase in the facilities
or force for doing the work Applica-
tions awaiting action Dec. 2S last num-
bered 1882, due to the inadequacy of
the Office force. For the ten years be-
ginning in 1910 the avera ge number of
applications was 1,1S6 and for the eight
years beginning with 1890 it has grown
al ,479 per year.
The report lays much stress on the
recommendations for an increase of
salary to those who have to do with
the examination of applications for pa
tents. In that connection the Assistant
Commissioner says: During the per-
iod of business depression designations
have been less frequent, but with re-
turning prosperity many of the most
efficient examiners have either already
left the office to engage in the prac-
tice of patent law or are about to re-
sign for that'purpose. Since 1882 no less
than 155 examiners and assistant eX-
aminers have resigned voluntarily from
the office. The places left vacant by
those men cannot be filled at once and
their resignation is a serious loss to the
government. A reasonable increase in
salaries would hold a fair proportion
of them, perhaps no to their own ulti-
mate advantage, but to the very great
advantage of the office of the public
The report also urges the necessity
for the establishment of a patent bar
as measure of protection to the in
ventor.
INFLUENCE OF INVENTIONS.
The influence of patented inventions
is shown most strikingly in the crea-
tion of new industries of enormous
magnitude since 1880. The manufac-
ture of electrical apparatus and sup
plies began to be of importance short
ly before 1880, and in that year sew
enty-six establishments, employing
1,271 persons and producing an output
valued at $2,655036, were in existence.
In 1890 the number of establishments
had increased to 1879, employing 9,4S5
persons and producing an output val
ued at $19,114,714. In the electric light
and power industry, as reported in 1880,
there were but three establishments in
the United States, employing 229 per-
sons and producing an output valued
at $458,40 At the close of 1894 there
were in the United States 2,124 central
stations, supplying electricity for light
and power. and 7,475 isolated plants, a
total of $500 establishments.
The use of electricity for power pur-
poses has found it's most notable de-
velopment in the electric railway The
first electric street railway in the Uni
ted States was put in operation little
more than ten years ago. In 1880, of
the $500 road miles of street railway
in the United States, almost all used
animal power. The total mileage Of
electric railways in the United States
up to October Of 1897 was 13,765 miles,
out Of total mileage of 1918, of which
but 947 miles were horse car lines. The
total capital invested was $S46, ,131, ,691.
The telephone in 1880 was just be-
ginning to be known commercially. At
the close of 1896 there were in the
United States 967 telephone exchanges
and 832 branch offices, using 5364S5
miles of wire and employing 14,425 per-
sons. The total amount stated to be
invested in telephone property in 1895
was $77,50o,00O.
The great development of the bicycle
industry has come since 1890, as a re-
suit OF the inventions in pneumatic
tires made about that time. In 1890
there were reported as engaged in the
manufacture of bicycles twenty-seven
establishments. In 1895 more than 200
establishments were engaged in the
manufacture of cycles, and the output
of wheels for that year is stated to
have been not less than 100000. The
product in 1897 was more than 900 900
wheels. In 1880 large proportion of
the cycles used were imported, mainly
from England. In 1897 the exports of
cycles and parts of cycles to England
amounted to value of $2,12S,421, and
the total exports amounted to a value
of s6,902,736.
Actress Lillian Kennedy ParaIyZpd.