The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-21
Big Work to Be Completed in Time
for the st. Louis Worlds
Fair.
GOVERNMENT TO PREPARE IT.
Records Are Very Incomplete and
the Public Is Called Upon to
Help Supply Missing
Facts.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Washington, July 20.-The Patent ONCE is
to have its secrets laid bare, for a book is
to be written about 1t. It may be more
than book. 1t may be a small library
For Uncle Sans Patent Office is a big thing
and there is a lot to tell in telling Of 1t.
The preparation of the history Of the
United States Patent. Office has already
been begun. and the work Is expected to
be finished in time for the st. Louis Worlds
Fair. The historical was begun under an
order Of Commissioner of Patents Frederick
!. Allen, which directs that Principal Ex-
aminers Campbell. Kinnan. Newton. Sew
all and Witherspoon. with the chief Of the
issue and gazette division. Mr.. Babson,
shall elect chairman, who shall cooper
ate with the chief clerk. E. v. Shepard, In
the complication of Its material, the ap-
pointment Of an editor to write the book.
and the Offering Of plan for its publica-
ton and distribution.
Mr.. Witherspoon. having been elected
chairman, has agreed with Mr. Shepard
that the work shall be divided into seven
general parts. and the work has been COM
menced in earnest. The parts are, first.
preliminary work. such as arranging title
page. preface. signed by the Commissioner.
giving reasons for publication. etc;
| synopsis Of the work. history Of the
patent system, history Of the Patent Office.
aims and advantages Of the system. brief
analysis Of the present laws. and q COM
patison of the same with foreign patent
| laws; view OF the patent system from a
commercial standpoint. miscellaneous topics
! and alphabetical index.
Reason for the Work.
| Calls from legislators for specific reports
| on certain subjects, communications from
all parts Of the world requesting informa-
| ton not readily obtainable, an increasing
| need for such a textbook within the once
and the surprising lack Of knowledge on
Of the office are ali factors which induced
! the Commissioner Of Patents to decide rp-
! on the publication.
tas the Fre of tbe eoss eiaI II ds
| zette, October 9. 1877; handful Of congress.
sional documents bearing only upon certain
sss ssasm Il she Hntsd which fa'sn
cellent 40 far as 1t goes: certain periodical.
containing scattered articles. are about al
that can be found in print at the present
present condition Of the great civilizer," a.
the Patent Office hae been called.
No individual could afford to publish sucf
very doubtful could be collected except By
bringing all the machinery OF the Govern
ment into play to draw together from officia
multitude Of facts. which must be authen
tic. As an illustration Of how easy il Is I,
miss a link in so vast a chain. II Is sum
cient to mention that until Colonel Michels
chief clerk OF the State Department. correct
ed the error. no mention had heen made II
any Of the Patent Office records Of one O
its Superintendent. Thomas Johns. who l1ei,
the position from May 2. 1895. to July 3, 1885
Numerous errors in dates and facts as com
monty given have already been discovered
Information ie especially desired from tn,
public concerning the biographies Of the va
rious superintendent and Commissioners
also likenesses of Superintendent John D
Craig and the aforementioned Johns; al
the rest of these officials have their portrait,
preserved In the Patent ONCE. Cuts OF tn
Patent ONCE buildings while branch un
der the State Department in Philadelphi,
er with any interesting matter ooncernip,
the same.
E, It is the intention to start with the roya
monopolies. which were bestowed upon cour
favorites. and show how they differed from
the present patents. which are given to al
payment for his time and labor.
One part Of the work will show that. with
out such reward. no inventions would flour
ish. Offering striking illustrations Of thi
fact by reference to certain articles In
vented before the time Of history, but unde
scope. which was used In Ninevel; tn
burning glass used by the early Greeks; tn
| compass used by the Chinese while as al
know, art has fiourished perhaps more thai
eve. since because the artist from his yer
nature felt repaid by the Joy Of seeing hi
riches Of the ancients. reward was neve
lacking for the sculptor. designer or painte
who could produce for the rich q new ~
treasure.