Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-29
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
LARGEST SURPLUS SINCE THE
YEAR 1897.
Present Space is Utterly Inadequate
and More Room and Larger
Force is Required.


of more than usual interest, was transmit
ted to Congress today by the commissioner
of patents, through the Secretary of the In
terror. The law requires the commissioner
of patents to present a report of the busi-
ness of his office for each calendar year.
The present commissioner, Mr.. Frederick l.
Allen. has departed from the usual custom
in each of his reports so far, and the docu-
ment sent out by him today has number
of interesting features. He states, In part:
1.-THE business transacted by the patent
office during the calendar year 1903 mas
again exceeded all previous records, as APP
pears in the foregoing tables. The preceo-
ing statement showing the number OF pat
ents and certificates of registration issued
from year to year shows that uniform
growth which indicates that the business OF
this office is an accurate lndex OF general
conditions of prosperity in the Industrial
arts of this country, and the comparison
hereinbefore made between the chief imam
cial and work elements of this office TOR the
years 1899 and 1903 permits the rate of TINS
increase to be accurately stated. FROM tnlS
statement 1t appears that In TOUR years tne
average increase of business, as shown by
the receipts expenditures Applications
fled issues and copies of patents ana rec
ords furnished, is % per cent, and TINS WORK
has been accomplished with an increase OF
90
work has been transacted as we'll as could
be expected in view of the force employed
and the volume of the work, and has been
without particular incident.
Increase Will Continue.
"There is no reason to expect that the
increase shown in the foregoing tables
may not be found in the ensuing year,
and it is evident that the force of en-
ployes will not be able to meet the re-
euirements of an indefinite further in
crease of the work unless their number
shall be corresponding1y increased AL
ready there are delays in the transaction
of our work and haste In the execution of
other portions of the work, which point
to the imperative necessity for more en-
ployes.
."rhe increase in work has made it
necessary to organize a new division.
known as the manuscript and photolltho-
graph division, and there should be added
to the present force new CHIEF OF dl-
vision and assistance chief for the pur-
poses of this new division. I have also
asked for ten additional clerks of class
one at $1,000 per apnum, to meet our
most urgent necessities.
1.-The increase of the appropriation for
the scientific library of this Office from
81, 900 to $500, made by the appropria-
ton bill of last year, was step IN the
right direction, and if this sum can BIO
per annum for the purposes of this Ii
brary and for the transportation of publ
cations of patents to foreign govern
ments 1 think the library can be main
tanned in a condition of efficiency.
"One cannot look at the progress Of
the patent office since its present system
of work was inaugurated by the act of
July 4, 1886, without seeing that it has
closely the development of the
arts in this country during all
of this period and 1t should require no
argument beyond these figures
to show that the system which has ac-
these results without expense
to the government, but which has, on the
contrary, furnished a net balance of 3d.
6S2, 54061, should be furnished with all
necessary facilities in the way of room
and employees. so as to permit its future
progress in the same measure as the ex-
pected growth of the arts in this coun-
try.
Germany Follows Our Example.
ut was to me matter of great interest
last summer to be shown at Berlin the
plans of the German government for an ex-
tensiin of their patent Office, which has
been the first in Europe to follow the pro-
cedure OF this country in the matter of
patents by the establishment of a
system of preliminary examination Lands
have been purchased by the German gov
and plans for buildings are now in
hand which are to privide accommodations
for two thousand employees, and it was
stated to me that such accommodation it
was thought would suffice for their neces-
sites until the year 1920. 1t is interesting
to notice that the annual issue Of patents
by the German government Is about six
and that our issue for the year
1903 was 81 500. 1t is to be hoped that
Americans will not be obliged to look to
Germany at any time in the next decade
In IF
the system Of issuance of patents upon pre-
liminary examinations. If they have con-
cluded that this system, originated by us,
lies so close to the national welfare that
they have decided to make great eXpendi-
lures to possess themselves of it's benefits,
funds should not be wanting in this coun-
try to keep our system up to it's present
position of pre-eminence. The stimulus
given to the industrial arts by the hope of
reward which the patent system presents
to the inventor. is conceded by the think
ing men of most civilized countries today
and the rapid progress of Japan has been
system In which they were largely infiu-
enced by impressions derived from an ex-
animation of the patent system Of the
United States.
Preset Space Inadequate.
AT the present time the space provided
for the patent office is inadequate, and it is
very desirable that some plan looking to
an extension of working room for the patent
office shall be adopted without delay, since
the present space will be unexpectedly
crowded at the present rate OF increase be-
fore any new building could be built to
contain this office. Our necessities are
growing, while there seems to be as vet no
plan for our relief in this regard. The
matter is of the utmost concern to all
friends of the patent system and nothing
but action in the direction of larger ac-
commodation will save the work of this
Office from difficulties plainly apparent and
not far ahead in point of time. This sub
ject is of such transcendent Importance to
this bureau that / respectfully urge your
earnest attention to it.
Financial Showing.
Total cash receipts, 81 ,642 2O1S
Expenditures, s1,44S.645.S1.
Surplus, $193556.
This surplus is the largest since 1897.
Number of applications fled 5O213.
Number of patents issued 1,609
''Of this number 3,763 were granted to
citizens of foreign countries
THE business of the office has ipcrea sed
about 30 per cent in the last five wears
while the employees have only been ircreas-
ed per cent, dsproportionate increase.
THE total balance to the credit of the
patent office in the treasury of the United
States January 1 tc