davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
NEW BUILDING FOR PATENT OFFICE WILL BE URGED
Under Present Conditions Space for the Storage Of Records
Is at Premium and Clerks Must Work in COngested
Rooms with Little Light or Air.

the steps of his office. watched the smoke
curling up from other government build
ings. AS the pillagers approached, DIR.
Thornton stopped them with a word, ar
guing with them and pleading that they
allow the evidences Of American genius
to escape the torch, and his plea was
granted.
Today, even in the cramped quarters OF
the Patent Office, there are more than
2so, 600 square feet of floor space. But
even this fails utterly to give sufficient
room. The offices Of the Secretary of the
Interior occupy nearly one-fifth OF this
space. but even the addition of such an
area would not provide suitable accommo-
dations.
At the time the British sought to fire
the Patent Office, il would have been a
comparatively easy task to replace the
patent records destroyed. But today, with
literally millions of files, the burning OF
the Patent Office would be a national ca
lamity OF untold Importance.
And yet, no Republican Congress has
ever consented to appropriate sufficient
funds to remoYe these records from the
danger of fire 70 which they are now con-
stantly exposed, and the Patent Office Of
ficials are now endeavoring to make the
Democratic Congress understand the
pressing necessity Of relief.
Records Not Protected.
The records of the Patent Office today
are not even protected by steel stacks.
So voluminous have they become that il
has been necessary to stack and file them
wherever pine shelving could be erected
in the rooms and corridors OF the build
ing.
Unheeding the warning given by the
two serious fires and a score of small
blazes which, fortunately, were eytin-
guished before any headway was gained,
Congress has, so far, refused to provide
fireproof building for this important
government bureau.
The fire danger in government buildings
has been further emphasized by recent
blazes in the Geological Survey Building.
in which records which cannot be easily
replaced were destroyed by FIRE as late as
a few months ago.
The first fire in the Patent ONCE oc-
CURED December Is, 1896. This was very
shortly after the first statute was passed
which placed the Bureau Of Patents on a
permanent working basis. At this time
the entire ofice was destroyed. and after
a long Congressional investigation, the
records were at last partially restored
by the cooperation OF the clerks of the
United States Courts. who submitted
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07


Commissioner OF Patents, who is a
jealous advocate of a new Patent once
building.
labor, completed the force. A painting
OF DR.. Thornton done by Gilbert Stuart,
the artist of Revolutionary period fame,
now hangs in the office Of the present
Commissioner Of Patents.
/ But IL is a far cry from those days
when three men could handle the patent
business of the nation, to today, when a
corps OF trained scientific experts COM
prising the forty-one examining divisions
in the office, and hundreds OF clerical en-
ployes on a pay roll exceeding $1,3OO,oOO
year, are kept busy so that there may be
no fatal delay in transacting the business
OF the nations inventors.
Profit to Government.
In the days OF DIR. Thornton. the fees
for patents went only a small way to-
ward defraying his salary and those Of
his assistants. Today the Bureau Of Pat
ents is the only real paying proposition
that the government has. The last fiscal
year report showed that the Treasury OF
the United States has to the credit OF the
Patent office an amount greatly in excess
of 100000 to represent Ihs actual earn
terror Department
In the days OF Dr. Thornton the Patent
Office was housed in a small building on
what is now f Street. between Seventh
and Eighth Streets Northwest. When
the British entered Washington on their
invasion in 1872, the old man. standing n
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

Bloke Brady receives the following
note from a pal:
Big spark. 196 Ohio. Saw Gellet. FiH
me if 1 stay. Left at 4. See you in St
Louis. Chi no place for me with Gel
let there. Spark straight tip. Safe to-
night Supper job. Front bedroom. Easy
from porch. Well hid. Good luck.
Brady smells a trap, but he's hard
up and willing to take chance. He
climbs the porch at 126 Ohio and gets
into an exciting mix-up. Gellet. the
detective, is lying in wait for him, but
Brady works a clever ruse and gets
away.
Draw one"' bawled "Bloke'' Brady.
The sleepy bartender jumped as
though in a nightmare and rushed to
the tap, crying. Yes, sir; yes, sir;
coming"
Brady reached out for the dripping
growled, Chalk it up, Dutch; money
stringencyr'
Yes. sir; yes. SIR chartered the lit
tie bartender effusively.
An cut that bloomin' yes, sir; yes,
sir too. Understand" came the bel
low.
Yes, sir; yes, SIR repeated the con-
fused German, ducking behind the bar.
Brady turned to his glass and eyed
it dyspeptically. Then he circled it
round and round to dry the bottom.
after that he gloomfiy made rings on
the table with the wet rim Of the glass
base.
The front door opened jerkedly and
slight fellow in tatters slipped
through.
Brady raised his eyes disinterestedly
and did not return the newcomers salu-
tation.
With a suspicious look at the sleepy
bartender the shabby man sidIed up to
the one IoIling at ease over his beer
and secretly slipped a note into one OF
the puffy palms.
over the slip of paper, but he made no
signs of having received anything.
sit down." he ordered at length.
The slight man slid into a chair.
Here, you, Dutch! Give him what he
wants an chalk II up"
Without another word the boorish feI-
low drained his tub" at a gulp, gath
cred himself together, stepped heavily
on his guests foot, and numbered out
through the side door.
Walking around the corner, entering
at a squalid tenement door, and climb
ing two flights of rickety stairs, "Bloke"
finally reached his room. Locking the
door, upturning a battered suit case, and
lighting a deep-bowled briar that he
picked up from the floor, "Bloke" seated
himself on the improvised chair, pulled
out the dirty note. and read:
big spark, I26 Ohio. Saw GeIlett.
Fix me If 1 stay. Left at 4. See you in
st. Louis. Chi. no place for me with
Gellet there. Spark straight tip. Safe
tonight. Supper job. Front bedroom.
Easy from porch. Well hid. Good
luck" .'REDr'
"Bloke'' forced the phrases into his
memory, twisted his face into sundry
horrible spasIns of thought and finally,
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
Congress to Be Asked at Beginning Of the December Session
to Make Provision for Structure that VIII Be
Up to Date in Every Way.

session joint resolution, carrying with II
an appropriation of 5000. was passed
authorizing the Commissioner OF Patents.
the Secretary of the Interior, and the Su-
pervising Architect of the Treasury to
draw up tentative plans and recommenda-
tions for a new building.
This commission, after considering the
plans of patent offices in European coun-
tries, together with a mass of information
which has already been gathered, Will
urge upon Congress the necessity for ac-
ton.
The work Of obtaining a new Patent
Office was begun by Edward Bruce Moore,
who a few weeks ago retired as Commis-
sioner Of Patents. Mr.. Ewing, who sue
ceeded him, is just as enthusiastic as was
his predecessor in urging the Importance
of such legislation. He has taken up the
work where Mr.. Moore left on, and Is
getting into shape all the information
available for submission to Secretary
Lane when he returns to Washington.
site Not Chosen.
The site for the new Patent once has
not been chosen. Although unoihcial as
sursnces have been made in the past by
influential members Of the Lower HOUSE
that as soon as the tarin and currency
questions are disposed of, the Patent
Once may hope for relief, the location
has not been chosen, because question
has arisen as to whether the old location
Will be used, whether new one Will oe
purchased, or whether the new ONCE Will
be erected on land already owned by the
government in the neighborhood OF the
Mall. where the new Departments OF
Justice and War and Navy will be built.
One bill, carrying an appropriation ot
81 100000 and fixing the location Of the
new Office on government land at Four
teenth and B .reets Northwest, was In
troduCed last session.
A p Patent Office could be made the
most eresting show building in Wash
ington. with the exception. Of course, OF
the new National Museum. The Patent
Office in itself is a monument to inVen-
tive genius and the example OF inven-
ton could be extremely instructive. !
ears, ago. before the working corps
Of the Office numbered more than LOU
employees and before the volume Of rou-
tine work was as great as it Is today,
as It does, every available
inch Of space in the building, the Patent
Office of :he United States was mecca
for sightseers. Instructive exhibits were
on display, including examples Of every
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
TIPPINGEVIL FULLY DISCUSSED

deal, with those who serve US in various
capacities, relating to the traveller?
1t was a great relief to learn in one
locality that the walters expected 10 per
cent This, at least anchored us to
something that would hold, but il did
not answer the question of what one
ought TO do. In other words. are all
those who serve US unperpaid? Am 1
taking bead and butter out of some
ones mouth by refusing to follow the
custom? II l pay 81 a day for room
and bath, am l or am l not entitled TO
the service that keeps it in order or
administers to every reasonable need?
The average American traveller is more
or less fond OF luxury, which he inter
prets as comfort, even necessities, and
above all things he wants what he wants
and Is willing to pay for ii. But must he
pay for 1t twice, or pay a toll or tip for
the privilege of spending his money?
Nor Is this all. 1t defrauds many
less-favored individual I have actu-
ally heard OF a lady, fond of travelling.
who could cover some OF the places she
desires 70 visit but for the extra burden
OF tips For tips have a way Il mount
ing up. 1t is a fact that before starting
en- any journey 1 estimate the extras
and tips. II can made these and my
bank account agree, the Transportation
and other items will take care OF them
selves.
My question does not aim to specu-
late with situations that call for extra
service. or gracious catering to some
whim or urgent need. as some circum-
stances must be left open for individual
solution, pleasure and privilege But
the sum total is, travel we must. Globe
trotters We are, most Of US. or hope to
be- Can there not be a heart-to-heart
understanding between travellers and
the hotels? Do all those who serve ms
need our help, or do they only expect
it?
Isn't there some one who can start US
right? If it is our duty to be patient,
smile, and have our dimes CmostIy
quarters) ready for bells, buttons, boots,
Tedcap Porters-but I spare you details,
as You doubtless know them. Won't
some one put it on a proper basis?'
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

statements and copies of patents on file
with them and a duplicate of models
were obtained through a committee ap-
pointed to reproduce ths best examples
which had been lost in the fire.
Thirty-one-years later the second seri-
Gus fire swept the Patent ONCE, but the
damage was not SO serious that IL could
not be repaired, although even at that
time the losses which were occasioned
have never been entirely restored
More than score OF times in the last
decade blazes have been discovered in the
Patent ONCE. springing from electric
wires, the pipes Of stoves which have
since been removed, combustion and kim
dred causes.
Views of Mr.. Ewing,
The vital Importance OF Immediately
obtaining an appropriation from Congress
Tor the construction OF a ireproof build
ing with adequate Accommodations to CON-
form with the enormous and profitable
work OF the Bureau, cannot be over-esti-
mated" said Commissioner Ewing.
There are undoubtedly changes which
can De made in the patent laws which
would come nearer than the present stat
utes do to carrying out the true purpose
which the government has in mind in is
suing patents. There are unquestionably
forms OF legislation which might be en-
acted TO give a greater efficiency to the
working force Of the Patent office. But
both Of these, while issues of great mo-
ment to the Patent office, are not 10 be
compared with the big, vital need Of a
new building.
Congress has appropriated for the con-
struction Of a new Department Of .Jus-
tice, new Department Of War and NAVY
as well as a new Bureau OF Engraving
and Printing and a Department Of Com
merce and Labor. There can be no ques-
ton but what all OF these buildings were
needed. But when the fact is considered
that the Patent Office is the single govern
ment bureau which is not only seIf-sup-
porting, costing the government not a sin
gle penny to maintain il, but which shows
more than s7,OO0OO0 profit. II seems as
though a new Patent Office should have
been included. The question becomes one
OF simple business policy, and IL such A
problem confronted any man who owned
a business which pays as the Patent ONCE
does, he would undoubtedly house il in a
ma agnihcent structure.
Il believe the time to be ripe, however,
when Congress will realize the need for
a new building and will recognize the
sound business policy involved in appro-
priating for one"
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

yards. Running down the track, he man.
aged to swing on to a passing freight.
and soon was comfortably and safely
settled in a cattle car.
Digging into his breast pocket he
brought out a pipe. Knocking it sharply
several times on his open palm, he
clutched with his fingers at an object
that dropped from the bowl
Holding it up. he gazed at il lovingly,
and unused: You're some sparkler! Got
you after all, besides the twenty. Won
der what that bum gumshOe Gellet will
say when he finds l gave him my pipe
in place of the one with the sparkler in
it? ! thought he'd try a Sherlock
Holmes game and show his coolness by
jus slippin' the pipe in his pocket with
out much mCren IOokin' at ii. Guess
they'll miss you at I2S Ohio. old spark
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
A Natural FireIes, Cooker.

The Maoris of Northern New Zealand
enjoy cooked food to a far greater ex-
tent than other natives, but they never
bother with fire They build their huts
on the edge of some friendly geyser.
where they may cook in natures kitchen
The methods of this primitive people Iiv-
ing in so strange a neighborhood are de-
scr1bed by Max Herr in his book on New
Zealand.
On spot which superstition would as
sociate with death and the devil, the
huts of about 900 Maoris lie scattered
the remnant Of the once war-like tribe Of
Tuhourangi 1t is lucky that these sim
pie folk need no kitchen. for nature has
built for them the best of all cooking
appliances and saved them endless
trouble with the stove, gas COMPANY or
coal merchant. \ pond of boiling water
lies In the middle OF the settlement. In
this the Maori woman puts her wsta-
Kettle to boil. or hangs the wide-meshed
fax bag filled with potatoes, and waits
until they are cooked. True the potatoes
cooked in their sims taste a little of
sulphur, but that Is the right flavor for
Maori palate-the haut-gout for the
brown gourmet
For the cooking Of meats the fuma-
roles, or holes, through which steam es-
capes from the ground, are used. box
with WOODEN grating for a bottom is
placed on the ground over the hole In
this the Maori woman places the meat,
well covered with tin or iron pots. An
old sugar bag Is then spread over the
box and the crude apparatus Is left until
the imprisoned steam has completely
cooked the Joint
POTATOES are the staple food OF the
Maori. Some miles away from the viii
lage the tribe owns a plot Of fertile soil,
where they plant the tubers. Each fam
ily has to send a number of its men,
bers to till the ground. They work for
two or three weeks and are then relieved
by another house. The same method Is
adopted at harvesting. The proceeds OF
the fields belongs to all. each family tax
ing as much as II needs Mutual jealousy
rs that each family sends workers,
that these really wSrk. and that nobody
takes too much. He who will not work.
shall not eat: he who does not plant.
shall not harvest.
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

these old models. A disposition which is
strong enough to be designated a national
feeling exists to preserve them. II Con-
gress giveS the Patent Office a new build
ing, there will undoubtedly be included
a vast model hall, sufficient for the DIS
play of these interesting relics Of genius.
OF course, at the present time. models
are not used in the Patent Once, work.
ing drawings having reached that height
of perfection which make models unnec-
essary, but, nevertheless, the old models
should be preserved.
Serious Side to Question.
But there is a mcie serious side to ths
question OF a new Fatent Once. more
Important by far than the matter OF the
old models. 1t Is the prcper safeguard
ing of the patent records themselves.
More than 100000 patents have been
issued since the establishment OF the
Patent ONCE, Ill years ago. At that
time the granting OF a patent was a mat
ter for discussion in Cabinet meetings by
the President, Secretary Of State. Secre-
tary of War, and the Attorney General.
The entire Patent Office force numbered
about three employees. At the head was
DR.. William Thornton, the first commits
sioner, who served from 1sO2 until 1898. and
whose salary was 81, 400. A clerk, William
Elliott, at yearly salary OF $500, and
messenger. who was paid ST2 for his years
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
Big Value in ThI. Tree.

From Popular Mechanics Magazine.
What is probably the most valuable
tree in the world is an alligator-pear
tree at Whittier, Cal. which netted its
owner a profit Of s. 2O6 in one year. This
tree was planted in 1905 and began bear
ing in its fourth year. In 1872 il bore
500 pears which sold for $500, while the
sale OF buds during the same year
amounted to $l,7O6, making the total
given above. The tree is a seeding, the
seed having been planted with guam
tity of other seed which had been i'm
ported, presumably from Mexico. An
other tree which was planted at the
same time, and which stands close 10
this phenomenal bearer, has never bourne
more than fifty pears in a season.
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

Records of the inventive genius Of the
4.-zlican people are housed today In
aiding old and inadequate; in some por-
flaas damp, dark, and insanitary, where
tHay are constantly in danger Of de-
struction b. r-e-the United States Pat
ent ONCE.
Congress will be asked in December, at
the beginning of its business session, To
eradicate these conditions. According to
the PR 1ent plans of the Commissioner
of Patents Thomas Ewing, and the Sec
retary of the Interior, Franklin X. Lane,
the erection of an entirely new and mod
ern building. with c.. safeguard
against fire and every possible cOnven-
ience for transacting the nations
voIuminous patert business. will be urged
upon 1 House Committee on Public
Buildings
The mere renovation of the present
Patent Office Building will not suffice
II is asserted. According to experts,
there is no way in which il can be fire.
proOfed, nor is there any way in which
the floor space necessary to relieve the
office of the handicap of lack of room
can e obtained.
WI a comparison IS drawn between
the crowded. dusty rooms of the big gov
ernment building occupying the square
between Seventh and Ninth and and
G Streets with the magnificent buildings
which England, Germany. and other ma
tions have provided for their patent Of
fees, the need for a new building in
Washington becomes an unassailable
fact.
And II a matter of national pride fails
to be an argument sufficiently strong,
those who are urging the necessity of a
new Patent Office cite the facts that once
the Patent ONCE was entirely destroyed
by fire, partially burned down a second
time, and many times threatened by mi
nor blazes. They argue that today space
is at such a premium in that bureau that
government records have to be kept
stacked helter-skelter in the halls of the
buildings, and that clerks are sometimes
forced to work in congested rooms where
little light or air ever enters.
Congress FavornbIy Disposed.
That the Democratic Congress is favor
ably disposed toward giving the Patent
Bureau a new home is evidenced by the
fact that during the closing days of the
session which preceded the present tariff
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
No Smoke without Some Fire.

From Judge.
OLD TESTAMENT RECORDS.
There is no new thing under the sun.
EccL, 1:ix.
Pipe and wine are in their feasts. Is,
ski.
Who is the wise man? Eccl. ST.
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke as out
Of seething pot. Job, H:xx.
The house was filed with smoke. Is,
6:iv.
Weeds were wrapped about my head.
Jonah, 2:v.
A thick cloud Of incense went up. Ez.,
Ski
And the house was filled with the
cloud. Ez., 1854
Your old men shall dream dreams, your
young men shall see visions. Joel, 2:
xviii.
Former troubles are forgotten. Is, IS:
xvi.
As the cloud is consumed and vanish
eth away. Job, .7:ix.
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

ShaSA' W -
phase Of the inventors genius. The great
MOI hall at the top of the building
was filled with the visible proofs Of
American progress, the actual devices
upon which patents had been issued
through many years Of nation building.
incoln's steamboat upon which he was
given a patent; the first automobile, To-
comotives, flying machines, printing
presses, electrical devices, the original
Morse telegraph key, and thousands OF
other models, each closely associated
with the origin OF the great utilities and
sciences of today were all there. It was
a liberal education in itself to study the
cases of models.
Models Taken Out.
But there came a time when the de-
partment needed expansion That more
room be available was imperative and
one by one the cases of models were re-
legated to a more or less forgotten limbo
unit! there is hardly a model left in the
whole patent office and the old model
hall has been cut up to provide extra
office rooms.
1t is true that the best of the models
have been loaned TO the National Mus
eIsTn, but thousands 81 them today, boxed
in long coffin-like receptacles, lie in the
basement of the Office building OF the
House of Representatives.
There is much sentiment attached to
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
that's Where.

From Judge
''oh. where are the girls OF yester-
Year,
Sighed the sentimental mutt.
They're mending the hose of the girls
of today"
Answered the neurotic NUT
The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

East Africa has come forward with
new wood suitable for lead pencils at
time when the supply of American
cedar, so largely employed for that pur-
pose, Is approaching exhaustion.