OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR. 583 



Twenty-two applications for letters patent on inventions of em- 

 ploj^ees of the department for dedication to the public were prepared 

 and filed. Of the applications pendino; at the close of the last fiscal 

 year and of those filed durinfr this fiscal year, 17 were allowed. In- 

 terferences were declared by the Patent Office in five cases between 

 the applications for letters V^itent by employees of this department 

 and applications filed by outside parties. Two of these cases, one 

 involving a novel septum for a honeycomb and the otlier a chemical 

 process, terminated favorably to the department employees. The 

 other three cases are still pending. 



Project statements for 1,718 projects under the Federal aid road 

 act, of which 1,717 were approved, involving a total estimated expen- 

 diture of $251,083,518.86 and 10,529 miles of road, were reviewed, 

 and 1,287 project agreements under that act, with certificates of ap- 

 proval of plans, specifications, and estimates, involving a total esti- 

 mated expenditure of $197,623,054.06, were examined. There were 

 also examined 263 drafts of modifications of agreement and certifi- 

 cates prepared by the Bureau of Public Roads and 50 original and 16 

 supplemental cooperative agreements under section 8 of the act re- 

 lating to roads and trails in national forests. 



Thirty-seven claims for balances due estates of employees of the de- 

 partment, who died intestate, were examined, the necessary papers 

 prepared for their payment, and advice furnished administrative 

 officers of the department relative to the same. 



Ten miscellaneous cases involving violations of laws other than 

 regulatory statutes, or relating to the miscellaneous work of the de- 

 partment, received consideration by this office and were referred to 

 the Department of Justice for appropriate action. In addition, one 

 case involving misconduct of an emploj^ee was reviewed and necessary 

 investigation made and appropriate papers prepared. Advice was 

 also given on the special features of several other personnel cases. 



Aid was given the advisory committee on finance and business 

 methods in drafting orders and memoranda of the Secretary for the 

 general administration of the department, and to the Office of Inspec- 

 tion in the consideration of a number of claims for reimliursement 

 for j)roperty lost or destroyed while being used for official work in 

 the national forests. 



Many service and regulatory announcements, circulars, and bulle- 

 tins, referred to this office by the Division of Publications for exam- 

 ination as to possible legal questions involved, were reviewed, and 

 numerous letters for the Secretary's signature, prepared in the various 

 bureaus, offices, and divisions, were referred to this office for comment 

 prior to signature. 



Many documents of various kinds, including statements of issues, 

 briefs, and memoranda on legal matters, were prepared on behalf of 

 the officials of this department for submission to the Attorney Gen- 

 eral, the vSecretary of the Interior, the Comptroller of the Treasurj', 

 and the officials of other departments. 



Testimony adduced at hearings held on charges preferred against 

 serum companies for violations of 4:he regulations governing the 

 preparation, shipment, and importation of viruses, serums, toxins, 

 and analogous products intended for use in the treatment of domestic 

 animals was reviewed and the Secretary and the Bureau of Animal 



