The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-01-18
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Creative Spark

Invention is declining in the
United States. Between 1890 and
1943 patent applications went down
about hdlf at the Patent Office in
Washington. To be very technical,
the drop was $40 per 1000 Of the
country's population. If the total
number Of patents applied for annu-
ally had varied great deal in for
mer years, this would not be so sur
prising, but it had not.
From 1900 to 1880 our number Of
patents increased each year, about
like the population grew. Many
people played at being inventors.
Some original gadget to make liv-
ing easier could be found in process
of development at nearly any way
side wagon shop. Many house.
wife cherished what she hoped was
a secret recipe. Boys and girls
dreamed of wealth from something
they might 'think up"
All to the Good
Only few of these formulas or
mechanical devices ever reached
the Patent Office, but the youngsters
who worked with them gained val
liable knowledge. And out Of this
wave of creative energy came use
full things. Patent applications
reached an all-tirne high between
1925 and 1880, and population con
sidered) patents actually granted
broke a 50-year record, only few
months later.
Invention is the spark of creative
thought. 1t was during Americas
era of invention that the people of
the United States rose up industri-
ally and climbed to the top of the
world, in wealth, in education, in
health and in living standards. In
ventions increase employment,
boost wages and shorten working
hours. Inventions create infinitely
more jobs than they destroy.
Historical Sketch
F. 0. Richey of Cleveland, Ohio,
one of the nations distinguished
patent attorneys, informed me re-
Gently that the history of invention
divides naturally into four periods:
Q) Before the 18th Century when
there were no patent laws and few
inventions; (2) The 18th and 18th
Centuries with poor patent laws
poorly administered; (3) From ear
ly in the 10Th Century to 1888, and
(4) since.
Americas era of invention COW
cred more than a century back Of
1888, a period with Ben Franklin at
one end and Thomas Edison at the
other, in which Chief Justice John
Marshall stood out for fair use of
the patent system. Those were the.
years when inventions and their sci
entific development were profitable
to men of intellect-schools of en-
cheering and chemistry flourished.
Spoil of Hostility
The Latin who called Necessity
the mother of Invention was wrong.
Necessity makes people improvise;
Invention springs from love of
achievement and hope of reward
for good ideas. Among Europeans,
the Swiss have the most freedom
and lead in inventions. The Chi
nese, having no hope of reward,
invent little. In America, our Pat
ent Office safeguarded the reward
in the 10Th Century.
In the last dozen years, however,
the U. S. patent system has been the
target of much verbal attack. Hold
ers of patents are pointed at as if
they had stolen something. More
over the rewards, that come (by
nature suddenly to inventors, are
twisted from them by taxation.
What is the result? Inventors are
not inventing. Must Americas Gre
alive spark be quenched, or may
her inventors be rewarded?