Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-18
The QUALIFICATION Divi.ion.

During the last month Of the fiscal year
1t was found possible to give to this d.
vision much needed room. This will enable
larger force to economically perform the
valuable work now being done by the chief
OF the classification division and his care
FULLY selected corps. The work of this di-
vision during the past fiscal year has con-
tinued. and. while the amount accomplished
is not perhaps as great as hoped for,
yet II Is but fair to say that with the addi-
uonal room and force much of the uncom-
pieted work of the past year will be fin
ished.
Concerning the additional room allowed.
Commissioner Duell says:
AS yet this bureau has derived little or
no advantage from the removal of the gen
eral land office. The additional room which
mas been assigned, under your direction, to
this office Is, regret to say, INADEQUATE for
us needs 1t demonstrates that the patent
office building is too small to meet the
needs of the Interior Department proner
and this office. AS the building was origi-
nally planned and designed for the patent
once and very largely paid for by money
PAID INTO the treasury by the inventors of
the country, 1t would seem as though the
entire building should be applied to the
uses or the patent office This. however,
does not seem to be feasible and I there
fore express the hope that at an early day
new building may be erected for the sole
use or the patent office and | bespeak your
powerful influence with Congress to aid
u.
provides for the construction of a .fireproof
building for the use and accommodation of
the patent office, including hall Of inven-
tons.
Legislation in this direction Is favored
by many societies and associations interest
ed in the subject of invention and by hum
dreds or progressive manufacturers and in
Ventors who have addressed petitions to
Congress in the matter The surplus re-
ceipts Of the United States patent office
Ior the past ten fiscal years amount to
more than s2.OOOOO0 while the total excess
OF such receipts covered into the treasury
amounts to over S5,OOO.G0 Aside from this
the United States owes debt to inventors
Wh!ch 1t can never repay. A slight recog-
milton OF this debt. however would he the
erection of building such as referred to
winch might be considered in the nature OF
monument. The necessity for some action
on me part OF Congress is pressing and
should not be longer delayed"
The Scientific Library.
This library" says the report, Consists
of over 10000 bound volumes, and a con-
sentative estimate of its value is 5000 OOO
1t would, however, be impossible even with
this amount, with any sum, to replace
the library, should it be destroyed by fire
Many of the most valuable works contained
IN the library are out of print. Our books
are not now safely stored, and while in
this building 1t is impossible to wholly pro-
tect them from fire vet much might he
done in this line by the use of steel stacks.
which are now in common use in every
modern library building
The library having outgrown its present
| quarters. 1t Is intended to change the loca-
ton as soon as suitable rooms can be pre-
pared. This therefore. is the proper time
Tor using ordinary precautions to insure the
safety of our books. l, therefore, most ur-
| gently request that sufficient sum NAV be
| appropriated for the purchase and erection
| OF steel stacks, which, from the provisional
estimates l have obtained, would cost but
a small sum more than the ordinary wood
shelV1ng now in use, and which must he
added to upon the removal of the library to
Its new quarters. 1t seems almost to b.. n
crime to omit to provide such a simple and
comparatively inexpensive means for mini
| MIXING the danger from fire.
Legislation.
In submitting my estimates for the pres
| ent fiscal year my suggestions in the main
were approved by you, with the result that
many of them so approved were favorably
acted upon by Congress. Your action in this
| matter was appreciated by the inventors
and manufacturers of the country.
Something more in the line of readjust-
ment OF salaries and reclassifcation of
| the clerical force Of this office is needed
and In submitting my estimates for he
next fiscal year your attention will be call
| ed in detail to such matters"
NUMBER OF THEFTS REpORTEn