"Annales des Mines," a journal devoted to mining and metallurgic oper ations, have been received from him entire; also, the continuation, for several years past, of the "Brevets d'Invention," containing descriptions of patents granted in France, together with various works upon agricul ture, chemistry, &c., received, through his agency, from individuals aud scientific societies in France. A series of specimens of Algerian soils and products, prepared by order of the Secretary of War of France, together with a collection of the agricultural productions of France, prepared by Mons. A. Vilmorin at the request of the Central Agricultural Society, have been received through Mons. Vattemare; but as it was understood that they were intended for the Department of the Interior, they have been handed over to the Secretary of that department, who has made mention of them in his late report accompanying the message of the President to Congress. 11. Examiners' reports.-These have been omitted, partly on account of the pressure of business on the examiners' desks, but principally because complaints have been made of partiality in the selections of inventions noticed. To avoid this, ali must be mentioned or none. These reports necessarily made invidious distinctions in regard to the relative importance and merits of devices patented. Such distinctions doubtless exist, but the duty of pointing them out does not attach to this office. They have been a fruitful source of complaint, of charges of partiality, and even of corruption; and although such charges are to be expected under any circumstances, it is inexpedient for the office to travel out of its path to invite them. II. FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL. The number of applications for patents received during the year ending December 31, 1851, is two thousand two hundred and fifty-eight; the number of caveats filed during the same period is seven hundred and sixty; being an increase of applications over last year of sixty-five, and of caveats one hundred and fifty-eight. The number of patents issued during the year 1851 is eight hundred and sixty-nine, including twenty-five re-issues, three additional improvements, and ninety designs. Three disclaimers were entered during the year. Within the year 1851, four hundred and thirty-eight patents have expired, a list of which is annexed, marked H. There were fifteen applications made during the year to extend patents, the terms of which were about to expire; which, with five pending applications at the close of last year, made twenty cases to be considered. Of these, nine were granted and eleven rejected. None have been extended by Congress during the year. The receipts of the office for the year 1851, on account of applications for patents, caveats, additional improvements, re issues, extensions, recording assignments, powers of attorney, &c., and for copies, amount to $95,738 61, as per statement marked A; being an increase over the receipts of last year of $8,811 56. The expenses of the office for the year 1851 are as follows, viz: For salaries, $33,719 73; contingent expenses, $11,533 81; books for the library, $1,183 32; temporary clerks, $14,391 12; agricultural statistics, $4,937 84; refunding money paid by mistake, $186 77; compensation of librarian, $250; chief justice of the District of Columbia sitting on ap. peals from Commissioner of Patents, $100; on applications withdrawn, $20,614 34, as per statement marked B; leaving a balance to be carried to the credit of the Patent fund of $8,821 68, as per statement marked C. On the 1st day of January, 1851, the amount of money in the treasury to the credit of the Patent fund was $15,331 27; to which add the excess of receipts over expenditures for the year, $8,821 68, leaves a balance in the treasury to the credit of the Patent fund, on the 1st day of January, 1852, of $24,152 95, as per statement D. There were one hundred and sixty-nine cases on the examiners' desks on the 1st of January, 1851; the number of applications received during the year, two thousand two hundred and fifty-eight; making the whole number of applications before the office during the year two thousand four hundred and twenty-seven. Of this number, one hundred and fifty-five remained unexamined on the 1st day of January, 1852. The business of the office for the past year shows the examination of two thousand two hundred and seventy-two applications, resulting in the issue of eight hundred and sixty-nine patents and one thousand four hundred and three rejections and suspensions, as exhibited per statement E. A statement is also appended, showing the amount of fees received, applications and caveats filed, during each month of the year, marked F. A. Statement of receipts for patents, caveats, additional improvements, recording assignments, &c., and for copies. Amount received for patents, caveats, re-issues, and additional improvements.... Amount received for recording assignments, &c., and for copies... Total.... ....$89,022 00 6,716 61 95,738 61 B. Statement of expenditures and payments made from the Patent Fund by the Commissioner of Patents, from January 1, 1851, to January 1 1852, under the acts of Congress making provision for the expenses of the Patent Office, viz: Salary paid assistant, Mr. Fogg.. .... Amount paid for copying report...... Salary paid agricultural clerk ($500 due for 1850). $2,500 00 222 15 501 69 Amount paid for seeds, stationery, &c......... 1,714 01 $33,719 73 11,533 81 1,183 32 14,391 12 186 77 20,614 34 250 00 100 00 4,937 85 86,916 94 In the above sum of $86,916 94, which shows an increased expenditure for the year 1851 over that of 1850 and former years, is embraced— The salaries of two principal and two assistant examiners, authorized at the last session of Congress, at the rate of $8,000 per annum for nine months. ...$6,0.0 00 The excess of expenditure for the agricultural desk over last year.. 1,078 49 Besides these extraordinary expenditures, the withdrawals of applications have been unusually large, exceeding the amount of those of last year-which was greater than any preceding year-the sum of. .$2,601 01 9,679 50 This sum of $9,679 50 deducted from the whole expenditure, $86,916 93, and the ordinary expenses of the office for the year 1851 is shown to be only $77,237 43-$2,863 52 less as compared with the expenses of last year. Statement of receipts and expenditures of the Patent Office for the year 1851. Amount of expenditures of all kinds. Amount received from all sources. Amount carried to credit of Patent fund for 1851...... $95,738 61 86,916 93 8,821 68 ... 24,152 95 Amount carried to Patent fund for 1851.. Amount remaining in the treasury to the credit of the E. Statement of applications on hand January 1, 1851, and number received during the year and acted upon. Number of cases on examiners' desks January 1, 1851. Number of cases before the office during the year Number of applications received in 1851... Number of patents issued during the year.... Number of applications remaining unexamined. Number of rejections and suspensions. 169 .2,258 .2,427 869 155 1,403 the upper floor and its cases restored to the office for the reception of its models, and the space now occupied by the models converted into rooms, there would be sufficient for the immediate wants of the office. If the museum is to remain where it is, then, certainly, the whole of the upper floor of the new wing will be required for the models now in the office; but that would be an inconvenient arrangement, since by it the models would be far distant from the rooms of the officers requiring them. It would be better to assign the new wing entirely to this office, or remove the museum into it. Under any circumstances the models, if they are to be properly disposed of and arranged for exhibition, as the law requires they should be, must be placed on the upper floor on account of light. When the west wing is completed, it is doubtful if there would be sufficient light to examine the objects in the cases were they to remain on the present or first floor. They are partially obscured now, and would then be much more so. In conclusion, I have no hesitation in saying that, in view of the rapidly increasing business of the office, the present building will, in my opinion, be found wholly insufficient for the purposes of this bureau in three or four years, if not sooner. The papers accompanying your letter are herewith returned. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOS. EWBANK. The number of models at present in the office is nearly 20,000. The yearly accumulation exceeds 2,000; so that in ten years, the number cannot be estimated at less than 50,000, since the annual increase for the last four years has been between two and three hundred. If the largest and best portion of the original building is still to be occupied with the collection of the Exploring Expedition, and if a moiety only of the new wing be accorded to this office, I submit that the $211,000 withdrawn from the Patent fund, and expended on the wing, be returned; since, after the payment of that sum. the office will have no more room than what is admitted belonged to it before. Were the Patent fund held sacred for the direct encouragement of science and art, and the interest expended in premiums for inventions and discoveries of national importance, (as suggested in the report of 1849,) it would be a fruitful and enduring source of honor and of benefits to the Union. I believe it of more importance to the country to preserve that fund intact, and to expend the interest as suggested, than to have a stately structure in which to transact the business of the office. 3. Increase of clerical force.-With the exception of two, authorized by the act of 1848, there have been no permanent clerks added to this office since its reorganization in 1836; while the duties of those employed have increased more than three fold during that period. They are, consequently, over-tasked, and inadequately paid. I would, therefore, respectfully and most earnestly ask Congress to authorize the employment of four additional permanent clerks, at salaries of $1,200, to be assigned to such service as may be deemed necessary by the Commissioner for the despatch of the public business. Some of the duties for which these clerks are designed are now performed by persons employed |