Evening star., 1941-12-28


forts. and even conveniences, to
which we have been accustomed, =,
Commissioner Coe explained In his
talk to Patent ONCE workers. THE
prosecution and winning of the war
are the supreme objectives for which
We must strive.
Move Is "for Duration"
"It is deemed to be absolutely es-
Sential to remove substantial part
of the Patent Office from Washing
ton. Faced with that eXigency, 1t Is
the desire of all officials of the Gov
ernment to adopt a course that shall
interfere as little as possible with
the functions and service OF the
office, and entail the minimum Of
difficulty for its personnel A can
cass of the problems involved has
brought the decision that the best
solution is the removal Of the Patent
Office to Richmond.
Il feel that under all the con-
ditions and circumstances that had
to be considered, this adjustment OF
the problem will minimize your
difficulties, and l Solemnly urge you
to accept the conditions that grave
emergency has imposed on us all"
Personnel and units transferred
to Richmond, Commissioner Coe
said. would be move there for the
duration"
Mr. Coe was warmly applauded on
taking the platform. and again when
he revealed that the Patent ONCE
transfer would be to Richmond in
stead of New York City. The meet
ing was brief, with Mr. Coe the only
speaker
In discussing the compromise
plan later, Commissioner Coe ex-
pressed the view that the Patent
Office, under the arrangement an
nounced yesterday, could continue
to carry on all its statutory duties,
though not as easily as if the whole
office remained in the District.
G. p. o. to Continue Printing.
About 300 employees of the Gov
eminent Printing Office are now
engaged on Patent once work
Since Richmond is easily accessible
by truck and bus to the Capital thus
permitting quick delivery of ma
terial, the Patent ONCE will continue
to have its printing done at the G
P. O.. Mr. Coe said.
The transfer in Mr.. Goes opinion
will not greatly affect the activities
of local patent attorneys. Some OF
these, he pointed out, may find il
necessary to o0en branch Offices in
Richmond Since the search room
the files and the scientific library
will remain here. local attorneys
and searchers will be able to con-
tinue in Washington a large part OF
their normal patent work he ex.
planned.
Commissioner Coe plans to have
two offices, one at the Commerce
Department, and the other in Rich.
mond. He will remain available
here for service in the courts, ane
receive suits filed in the District
against the Commissioner of Pat.
ents. He will spend part of hi!
time in Richmond, directing ths
work of the units transferred Il
that city.
The records in the basement o.
the Patent Office weigh approx.
mately 4,700 tons, and the specially
designed equipment which house!
them, weighs an additional 1882:
tons. These files which cover foul
acres of floor space, include from
10 to 100 or more copies Of pas
patents. Officials of the Patent OF.
flee are much pleased that most O.
these files and all equipment, vii
remain here.
The examiners records, however
will have to be moved to Richmond
These weigh several thousand tons
The work of examining applica
tions for patents is divided amonl
IS examining divisions, each having
jurisdiction over certain assigned
fields of invention. Each division
keeps on hand copies of all Unite,
States patents in its respective juris
diction, and copies of all foreigl
patents in the same fields. A larg
part of the examiner records ar
stored on the sixth floor of tn
Patent Office. Here also are thou
sands of original drawings, ant
photoengraving plates.
Preferred by Lawyers.
Patent lawyers here seemed to b.
in substantial agreement yesterda,
that the removal of a large part o
the Patent Office to Richmond !
preferable to the earlier plan TO
transferring the Office and record
to New York.
1--WE would have preferred, o
course, that the Office remain in it
entirety in Washington" John
Darby, vice president of the Amer
lean Patent Law Association sal
yesterday. "Since the Government
has decided that it is necessary t
move part of the Office out of Wash
ington, to secure additional spac
for defense agencies, however, "
believe the plan announced yesterda
is the best solution, and that tn
selection of Richmond is logics
S one, making it possible for most
the patent lawyers here to continu
their normal activities in Wash
ington."
A removal of the Patent Office
= New York city, Mr.. Darby contir
!, ued, would probably have NEAR
that the Office would have RENAME
: in that city permanently. Transft
q to Richmond, however, seems on
. temporary emergency measure, /
continued. expressing the belief thi
4 the personnel and units assigned,
:.