The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-05
Patent Office History.


The Patent office OF the United states
has now been in existence III years. Dur
ing that time Ia has ever been one OF the
most efficiently conductd branches OF
the governmental service. Perhaps bo-
cause IL has so admirably met the re-
quirements of the public, and perahps
because II has been protected as far as
possible from baneful political influence,
the Patent office is rarely mentioned In
the daily press and is. Consequently. the
one department OF our government about
which least In known
For the purpose OF enlighting the gen.
eral public on the work which the office
mas conscientiously performed during its
existence. and OF placing I'm the hands of
Inv entors book which will explain the
method OF procedure I'm obtaining patents
ana which VIII give such general inform
alton as may be valuable the commission
er OF patents has authorized the publica-
tion or "A complete history OF the Patent
onice, with useful miscellany" In the Of
ncial Gazette letter has been published
inviting all persons TO furnish the chief
clerk OF the office with rare documents,
printed, articles. or material not readily
oplainapie that may prove OF value in
compiling the work
The literary labor OF preparing this his
tory for publication has been entrusted by
the commissioner TO five principal exam
iners, tho chief of the Issue and Gazette
division and the chief clerk This publi-
cation commission has already outlined
the general plan of the history. From
Information which we have received, the
work Will be reference book OF vast
scope
The historical chapters will begin with
discussion OF medieval royal monop-
oiies and will show how they differ from
,he present patents. Besides narrating
the history OF patents I'm the United
states, the work will describe the organ
ization and administration OF the office.
discuss the aims and advantages OF the
present system, compare that system with
tho methods followed In foreign countries
ana briefly analyze our present laws The
commercial benefits TO be derived from
Wei conducted patent system will like
wise form the subject OF chapter which
should prove OF unusual interest
One OF the most important parts OF the
history Will comprise a careful financial
STUDY or the value of patented inventions
To the country at large. Statistics win
be given to show how enormously the ma
tional wealth has been increased by the
inN ention OF such devices as the trolley.
the telephone. the telegraph. the bicycle.
Bessemer steel the cotton gin the steam
engine, hreproof buildings and labor-sav-
ing machinery. Abstracts from the re-
strate what the patent system has done
to cheaper the price OF commodities by
fostering inventions.
Among the miscellaneous matter which
VIII be included may be mentioned the
articles on negro. Indian and women in
Sentors; on the inventive genius OF va
rious races; and on the relation of en-
Vironment TO invention, as well as studies
of certain prolific inventors. and a brief
history of some principal arts
That 80 ambitious work IL success
'ully completed, will prove OF inestimable |
'slue cannot be doubted The office has |
Ieceived innumerable calls from legisla- |
ors for specific reports on various topics.
communications from all parts of the |
World requesting information not readily |
and +, indeed, has itself felt |
he need OF a textbook which should be |
ted by the examiners and their assist |
Ints
Hitherto II has been almost impossible
o obtain accurate information upon GER
ain subjects pertaining to the work of |
he Patent office Official reports. most
nedger M their details: the fire issue
4 the Official Gazette which bears the
ate or October 1877; handful OF con-
rcsslonal documents bearing only ,ipon
ertain points; Chmpbelrs '"rhe Patent
ysten OF the United States;" various
ariodicals. c$nts'ring scattered articles
omprlse the entire information on the
atent system at present readily available
, the public
To issue work which would exhaus-
vely treat OF the origin. DEVELOPMENT.
nd present condition OF our Patent Office
'ould be task which no single per-
IN could successfully hope TO perform
My by setting all the machinery of the
overnment In motion apd by gathering
'om official as well as private sources
ie facts which have accumulated I'm n
undred years Is n possible 10 bring forth
work In which the United States Patent
fiee OF the past and OF the present will
adequately described. From the pres-
~ lndicauons II seems reasonably GER
Iin that the history Will be ready for
stribution at the opening os tbe q,
onis Exposition OF lso3-scientInc Ameri-
IN.