Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-15
The PATENT OFFICE
Report of the Commissioner Sent to
Congress.
MORE APPLICATIONS THAN EVER
Efficient Examiners Leaving the
Service.
LARGER SALARIES NEEDED

LAhdER SALARIES NEEDED
Inc annual report of the commissioner
OF patents for the calendar year 1897 was
laid before Congress yesterday 1t is dated
January 81 and was prepared by Assistant
Commissioner A. P. Greeley who was
acting commissioner for several months
preceding the death of the late Commits
s,oner Butterworth. In 1897 there were
received 4o.661 applications for patents,
and in addition a large number Of appli-
cations for designs. trade marks etc. Pat
ents granted numbered 23T29, including
designs; IS patents were reissued, 1871
trade marks registered and IA labels and
16 prints The number of patents that ex-
PRED was 1926. The total expenditures
were $112,S3, the receipts over expendi-
lures, s252.79S- The total balance to the
credit of the patent Office in the treasury
of the United States January 1, 1898, was
$4.9T1, 43S
In proportion to population more patents
were issued to citizens of Connecticut than
TO those of any other state-1 to every 49,;
inhabitants Next in order are the follow
ing: massachusetts,, District of Columbia
New Jersey. Rhode Island, New York
To residents of England 7O6 patents were
issued: 10 residents Of Germany. 55i: Can
ada, 2S6s and France, Do
More Applications Than Ever.
The number of applications received for
examfpation during the year was greater
than for any other in the history of the
office. yet the report says there was no
Increase in the facilities or force for doing
the work. Applications awaiting action
December % last numbered 1882, due to
the lnadequacy of the office force For the
10 years beginning in 1910 the average
number of applications was 1,1s6. and for
the years beginning with 1880 it has
grown to f.4I9 per year.
The report lays much stress on the rec
concentrations for an increase of salaries
to those who have to with the exami-
nation of applications for patents In this
connection the assistant commissioner
says:
During the period of business depres-
sion designations have been less frequent.
nut with returning prosperity many of the
Nest efficient examiners have either al
ready left the Office to engage in the prac-
ttce OF patent law or are about to resign
for that purpose. Since 1852 no less than
155 examiners and assistant examiners
have resigned voluntarily from the Office.
The places left vacant by these men can
not be filled at once and their resignation
is serious loss to the government. A
reasonable increase in salaries would hold
a fair proportion of them. perhaps not to
their own ultimate advantage, but to the
very great advantage of the office of the
public"
Patent Bar.
The report also urges the necessity for
the establishment of patent bar as a
measure of protection to the inventor
Under the overheard rule of practice
by which any person of intelligence and
good moral character may appear as the
agent or attorney. in fact. of an applicant
lot few such attorneys have in the past
been permitted to practice before the Of
flee. with the result that. applications
badly prepared and unskillfully and care
lessly prosecuted, patents were issued
which, while valid for all they claimed.
were worthless in that they failed to ade-
quately protect inventions which, properly
claimed. might have been worth thousands
of dollars
An earnest attempt was made during
the year to correct abuses which have
arisen in consequence of this liberality OF
practice and several attorneys whose op-
erations, the report says. savored of con-
f,0ence games by which the unwary and I'M
learned lost their money were disbarred.
But, the report continues, the IN
fiuence of patented inventions is most strik-
ingly shown in the creation Of new in
dustries of enormous magnitude since 1880
that is. within the term of patents now
in force or but very recently expired.
Electrical Inventions.
OF these new industries the most noted
are those directly connected with the de-
velopment of electrical inventions.
The manufacture of electrical apparatus
and supplies began to be of Importance
shortly before 1880, and in that year
enty-six establishments, employing 127l
persons. and producing an output valued
at S2,tJJ, O36, were in existence. In 1890 the
number of establishments had increased to
1S9, employing 9.4S5 persons. and producing
an output valued at $40, ia IA.
In the electric light and power industry
as reported in 1880, there were but three
establishments in the United States, en-
ploying % persons and producing an out
put valued at Si5S, 400.
At the close of 1894 there were in the
United States 2,12i central stations, sup
plying electricity for light and power and
I.4i5 isolated plants, total of $3.50 es-
adjustments. The capital invested in these
central stations is stated tos have been
SIS. 1862 and the capital invested in the
isolated plants. though not stated. was
probably rot below S200.000.00O. A con-
sentative estimate of the number OF per-
sons employed at that time in this in
dustry would not be under 5000.
The use of electricity for power purposes
has found its most notable development in
the electric railway. The first electric
street railway in the United 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 nearly
all used animal power. The total mileage
Of electric railways in the United States
Of total mileage of 15.11S, of which but
9i7 miles were horse car lines. The total
capital invested was SS46. 131 691.
The telephone in 1880 was just beginning
to be commercially known. At the close of
1896 there were in the United States OCT
telephone exchanges and SD branch Offices
using ,si5 miles of wire and employing
IA. 425 persons. The total amount stated
to be invested in telephone property in 1895
was ST. 500 600.
The Bicycle Industry.
The great development Of the bicycle In
dustry has come since 1890 as a result of
the inventions in pneumatic tires made
about that time. In 1890 there were report
ed as engaged in the manufacture of b.
cycles q 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 500, 900. The
product in 1897 was over 600 600 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 a value Of
S2,12S49l, and the total exports amounted
to value of Sc .yO2, 1876.
TIE report refers to a number of other
industries, many of which, 1t Is asserted
have been developed since 1890. To the es-
Inmates afforded by the patent office. the