The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1901-03-07

The progressive development of In
ventive genius in this country, as In
dicated by the number of patents issued
each year, has been by successive waves
rather than by regular and continu-
Gus advance. Taking the first year or
each decennial period, we find that In
1900 the number of patents granted was
Al; in 1910, 223; In 1920, 1855; in 1880,
554; in 1910, 473; In 1850, 800; in 1850,
4,53S. The great increase in inventions
during the decennial period $4,000 Is
remarkable feature In Patent Office his
tory. This period was one of rapid ma
tional development, and was eharac-
terized by the great extension of steam
transportation, the general Introduction
of the telegraph, and the perfection OF
the sewing machine, the reaper, the
mower, and many other valuable de-
vices. During the Civil War the pro-
duction of patents fell off, but no sooner
had the volunteer troops returned to
their homes than wonderful fertility
of invention was displayed Ideas that
had been developing In the minds of
the soldiers during their life in the
camps were put into models by the
thousand and sent to Washington. In
1865 the number of patents granted
was 6.616, and in 1867 1t had run up to
13.O26. 1t remained for time at about
that annual figure, being, in 1870, 49,
947; but In 1876, the year of the Cen
tennial Exposition, which powerfully
stimulated inventive genius, 1t reached
the highest number yet attained, 1929.
Then there was steady recession, and
by 1880 the patent crop had fallen back
10 13.947. Since 1883 the number of
patents annually issued has exceeded
10000. During the calendar year 1899
there were issued 25.527 patents.
One of the old examiners in the Pat
ent Office estimates that about one in
vention in twenty-five repays the cost
of taking out a patent Yet inventors
as class are sanguine men, and no
knowledge of the enormous percentage
of chances against them will deter them
from multiplying ingenious devices.
Every one expects fortune from his
particular piece of mechanism. Ev-
cry one has heard not only of the enor-
nous sums realized from the great in
ventions OF the last half-century, but
also of the large returns yielded by
things apparently trifiing which have
struck the public fancy or met the pub
lie need. The toy called the return
ball. small ball attached to an elastic
string, is said to have produced profit
Of $4,000 a year; the rubber tip on
lead-pencils has yielded a competence
to the inventor; more than $1,000 900
screw. the inventor Of which was SO
poor that he trudged on foot from Phil
adelphia to Washington to get his pat
emit; the roller-skate has yielded ST.
900, 900 after the patentee spent $125, 700
In England fighting infringements; the
dancing Jim Crow is set down for $780,
900. and the copper tip for children's
shoes at $1,000, 900; the spring window
roller pays 100000 a year, the needle
threader $4,000 a year; from the drive
well 100000 have been realized; the
stylographic pen is credited with $780,
900 year; and the egg-beater, the rub
Der stamp, and the marking-pen for
shading different colors. with large
sums. These are only a few examples
among hundreds that might be cited.
No wonder inventors are hopeful when
they reflect that comfort for life and
fortune for their children may come
from a single fortunate idea.