The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-07-04
GREAT SUMS SAVED
/ BY U. S. SCIENTISTS
IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES ARE
MADE VERY FREQUENTLY.
They BRING HIGHER PAY
Secretary Wilson's Method Of Requit,
ing Government Employees
Some Of the More Val.
liable Patents.

Washington, July millions Of
dollars--in fact sum SO vast that it
cannot now be estimated--have been
saved to; the American people by dis
coyeries made by government scient-
lists during the fiscal year which closed
to-day" declared Secretary Wilson
Sunday in speaking of the record of
the department Of agriculture for the
year.
Time alone must develop the i'm
portance to the world of the expert
ments being conducted every day by
these men, whose only reward is in
the passing fame attained in reporting
valuable finds There would be money
in.3many of these discoveries If the
scientists were to patent them in their
own names, but in every case the peo-
pie as a whole are the beneficiaries,
for the patents are, dedicated to the
government to be used by the United
States or any OF its officers or en-
ployes in the prosecution of work for
the United States, or by any person
in the United States without the pay
ment of royalty"
PaytRaised for Discoveries.
Secretary Wilson feels that the
recognition by Gthe government of
these discoveries Is far too meager,
but he does not hesitate TO give to
the scientist this little help whenever
he feels that 1t is merited. Whenever
a valuable discovery, warranting Unit
ed States patent, is made by an en-
ploye of the department of agriculture
the secretary advances the salary Of
the employee as much as it is possible
to do under the law.
The patent is taken out In this
country in; the name of the scientist
making the discovery and then dedi-
Gated to the United States. If the dis
oovery is applicable to use in for
efgn country the scientist is authorized
to receive the benefit, but usually the
patent is of a character designed to
meet conditions In the United States
and of little value elsewhere.
Among the patents which have at
tracted national attention are in rela-
ton to the labelling of fresh meats
that have passed government inspec-
ton, the use Of feldspathic rocks as
fertilizers and the prevention of cor
rosion of fence wire and rusting of
iron and steel generally.
Secretary Wilson estimated that the
discovery of an ink which may be
used III stamping carcasses that have
passed government meat inspectors
and which will not sta!9, spread or
penetrate the meat, will in itself save
the government between 100000 and
100000 next year and a proportion
ately larger sum annually as the
amount of government inspected meat
increases. The ink discovery was
made by Marion Dorset, acting chief
OF the biochemic division of the de-
partment of laboratory. He received
from the, government an advance in
salary amounting to about $1,000 a
year. 49,.
Potash from Feldspathlc Rock.
DR.. AllGrton s. Cushman, assistant
director of the Office of pure foods,
ulbCONST6u luC VI LllS
traction ofbpotash from finely ground
! feldspathie,d troqks, This discovery
means that the United States will no
longer be dependent upon Germany
for the supply of potash used in the
manufacture of fertilizers. B. T. Gal
loway, chief OF the bureau of plant in
dustry, is now experimenting with
feldspathic rock in the cultivation of
tobacco In Connecticut.
1t was DIR. Cushman also who made
important discoveries in the manufac-
ture OF fence wire of greatly increased
durability. at cost no greater than
under the present process. Along the
same lines he investigated the subject
of preventing the rusting of all ex-
posed metals, including steel rails. In
the case of DR.. Cushman, Secretary
Wilson says the government can offer
no reward as he already receives the
highest salary authorized by law for
one in his position.