The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-15
PATENT OFFICE REPORT.
Figures Showing Development of Ia
dustries by Recent Inventions.


WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE annual
report of the commissioner of patents for
the calendar year 1897 was laid before Con-
gress to-day 1t is dated Jan. 81 and was
prepared by Assistant Commissioner A. p.
Greedy who was acting commissioner for
several months preceding the death of the
late Commissioner Butterworth. In addi-
ton to the usual statistical summary of
patent work the report contains consider
able inventions, particularly since 1880. In
1897 there were received 1861 applications
for patents and in addition large num-
Der of applications for designs, trade
marks, ETC. Patents granted amounted in
numbers to 1929, including designs; 65 pat
ents were reissued, 1,671 trade marks regis
tered and IA labels and sixteen prints. The
number of patents that expired was 1925.
The total expenditures were 81, 122, 843 the
receipts over expenditures $252 79S. The total
balance to the credit of the Patent Office
in the treasury of the United States on Jan.
l. 1898, was $4,971 4SS. In proportion to popu-
lation more patents were issued to citizens
of Connecticut than to those of any other
State-one to every 7S6 inhabitants.
The influence of patented inventions"
the report says, lis most strikingly shown
in the creation of new industries of enor-
nous magnitude since 1SS0-that is within
the term of patents now in force or but
recently expired. OF these new industries
tie most noted are those directly con-
nected with the development of electrical
inventions. The manufacture of electrical
apparatus and supplies began to be of inn
portance shortly before 1880 and in that
year seventy-six establishments employing
LII persons and producing an output
valued at 81, $50 036 were in existence In 1890
the number OF establishments had increased
TO lS9, employing 9,485 persons and produc-
ing an output valued at $19, ia ia. In eiec-
trio light and power industries as reported
In 1880, there were but three establishments
in the United States, employing 229 persons
and producing an output valued at $45S, 400.
AT the close of 1884 there were in the
United States 2,124 central stations supply
ing electricity for light and power and 7,475
isolated plants a total of $3.50 establish
ments. The capital invested in the central
stations is stated to have been $25S $50, 256
and the capital invested in the isolated
plants, though not stated, was probably not
below $2O0, OOOOUO. A conservative estimate
of the number of persons employed at that
time In this industry would not be under
1.-The use of electricity for power purpose
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
used animal power. The total mileage Of
electric railroads in the United States up
to October of 1887 was 1866 miles out OF
a total mileage of 1918, of which but 947
miles were horse car lines. The total capt.
tai invested was $S46, 131, 691. The telephone
in 1880 was just beginning to be CONNER
cially known. At the close of 1896 there were
in the United States 967 telephone, ex con-
greSS, S32 branch offices, using 536, 841 miles
of wire and employing 14,425 persons. The
total amount stated to be invested in tele-
phone property in 1895 was $775O0,0O0.
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 1850 there were re-
ported as engaged in the manufacture of
bicycles twenty-seven establishments. In
1891 more than two hundred establish
ments 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 over one mill
lion wheels. In 1850 a 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 q value of SIPS 491 and the total exports
amounted to value of Sc, SO2 1856. The report
refers to number of other industries many
of which, it is asserted, have been deyel-
Oped since 1890.