Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-14
Another Landmark of Capital Passes
Ra2 old Building Department Agriculture Removes Structure Which Has Stood
1868Heury L. EhUoh Mas Factor Establishment
Departmeut-Isaac NezymS SerUieA First Commits


Building was destroyed by fire and all the
patent models were lost in the flames.
The Patent Office sought quarters in the
City Hall, now the Court House. on Louisiana
avenue and there it remained until 1910,
when it was moved into the present building at
Ninth and F streets northwest, which it has
continued to occupy since that date.
Speaking of Mr. Elsworth's activities in en-
couraging and furtheIing agricultural pursuits,
James M Swank, chief clerk of the Department
of Agriculture for some years, in 1872 said:
Mr. Ellsworth was Commissioner of Patents
from 1886 to 1845, and one of the first sub
jects which engaged his attention after assum-
ing the duties of the Office was the impulse
which had been given at that day to improve
ments in the implements of agriculture, and
the aid which agriculture might derive from
the establishment of regular system for the
selection and distribution of grain and seeds
of the choicest varieties for agricultural
purposes.
During the administration of John Quincy
Adams the consuls of the United States were
instructed to forward to the State Department
rare plants and seeds for distribution, and
botanical garden established in Washing
ton. Little was done in the collection and dis
tribution of seeds thus authorized, but to the
association of this enterprise with the Patent
Office in the State Department Mr.. Ellsworth
was doubtless indebted for the hint of a more
comprehensive system of seed distribution
In 1886 and 1887, the first two years of his
incumbency, the commissioner, without legal
authorization received and distributed many
seeds and plants which had been gratuitously
transmitted to him. In his first annual report,
dated January l. 1888, he called the attention
of Congress to the subject, and strongly recon-
mended that provision be made for the estab-
lishment at the National Capital of deposit
tory of new and valuable varieties of seeds and
plants for distribution to severy part Of the
United States. He further recommended that
this depository be made part of the Patent
Office
mo immediate action was taken by Congress
upon the recommendation, but this neglect did
not discourage the Commissioner from con-
tinuing his self-imposed task of distributing,
under the frank of friendly members OF Con-
greSs improved varieties of wheat, corn, ETC.,
the beneficial effects of which distribution were
fully shown in testimonials from all parts OF
the country.
UON the 21st of January, 1889, Isaac Fletcher
of Vermont chairman of the Commit
tee on Patents of the House of Representatives,
addressed a letter to Commissioner Ellsworth,
requesting the communication of information
relative to the collection and distribution OF
seeds and plants; also, relative to the prac-
ticability of obtaining agricultural statistics.
To this letter of inquiry the commissioner re-
sponded on the following day. reciting the ac-
ton already taken by him to further the cause
of agriculture, and assigning many reasons why
his previous recommendations should be adopt
ed In this communication, the commissioner
suggested that arrangements could be made
for the exhibition of different kinds of grain,
exotic and indigenous, in the new Patent
ONCE
I'm the closing hours of the Twenty-flfth
Congress (act of Sd March, 1880, the COM
missioner was gratihed by the passage of an
appropriation of 81 600, to be taken from the
Patent Office fund, for the purpose of collect
ing and distributing Seeds prosecuting agricul-
I'm n
statistics. Thus originated the agricultural
division of the Patent Office.
"In his annual report of the following year,
dated January /, 1840, Commissioner Ellis
worth stated that the diplomatic corps of the
United States had been solicited to aid in pro-
curing valuable seeds, and that the officers Of
the Navy had been requested to convey 10 the
Patent ONCE such seeds as might be offered.
AS the sixth census then about to be taken,
agricultural statistics re deferred until its
completion In the next report (January 1,
bad it was stated thet 10000 packages of
seeds had been distributed during the preced-
ing year. and that the agricultural statistics,
based upon the returns of the census, were
being compiled. The i'm ,ortance of an annual
report of the state of the crops in different
sections, as a preventive against monopoly,
and a good criterion to calculate the state of
exchange was commended to the considera-
ton of Congress and from this suggestion were
evolved III time the annual agricultural reports
ION the 30th of April, 1845, Mr.. Ellsworth
resigned the Office of Commissioner of Patents
The facts in his official career have been given
in some detail because he was really the founder
of that branch of the Government now en-
braced in the Department of Agriculture, and
as such entitled TO honorable mention in these
pages, and because the first successful steps in
the work of securing Government recognition
of agriculture deserve to be recorded. The
patience, enthusiasm and industry of Mr. Els
worth in this work entitle his name TO tbs
grateful remembrance Of American farmers"