FARMERS' REGISTER. 



157 



It is a sinojiilar fact, that in England peat was 

 formerly considered as a useless substance. One 

 jrreat use ol' peat coueists in its power of absorb- 

 ing licjuid tiianures. In barn-yards it absorbs the 

 uiiiie. Tiie liquid manure of an animal is consi- 

 dered by many judicious liumers, where it can be 

 well s,(ved and applied, as of equal value as the 

 solid. This subject deserves much atleniion. 



REPORT FROBI THE COMMISSIONER OF PA- 

 TENTS, SHOWING THE OPERATIONS OF HIS 

 OFFICE DURING THE YEAR 1839. 



January 24, 1840. — t?eferred to the Committee on Patents and 

 the Patent Officej and orUertd to be printed. 



Patent Office, January 1, 1840. 



Sir — The Commissioner of Patents has the 

 honor to transmit his annual report. 



Four hundred and twenty-five patents have 

 been issued during 1839, (including eight addi- 

 tional improvements to Ibrmer patents,) of which 

 classified and alphabetical lists are annexed; 

 marked A and B. 



During the same period, three hundred and 

 three [iatents have been expired, as per list 

 marked C 



The receipts of office for 1839 amount to P7,- 

 260, from which may be deducted ^5,769, paid on 

 applications withdrawn. 



The ordinary expenses of the Patent Office the 

 past year, including payments for the library and 

 agricultural statistics, were $20,799 95, leaving a- 

 surplus of ^11,450 43 to be credited to the patent 

 fund, as per statement marked E. 



For the restoration of models, records, and 

 drawings, under the act of 3d March, 1837, 

 $7,973 57 have been expended, as per statement 

 marked F. 



The receipts of the office would have been 

 nearly $2,000 more, had not the late law permit- 

 ted assignments to be recorded without charge, a 

 gratuity, however, which has given much saiis- 

 laction. 



In compliance vvilli the act of 3d of March, 

 1839, 1 have published a digest of all patents 

 granted by the United States, adding thereto an 

 alphabetical index, and shall deposite in the library 

 ofcongress nine hundred copies of the same. 



The old diirest was very deleclive. A new ar- 

 langement has been made, giving to each inven- 

 tion its approp:iati' classification. 



A distribution of the new digest, will materially 

 lessen the correspondence ol' the office, and guard 

 citizens against the impositions of venders of spu- 

 rious patents. The volume contains above seven 

 hundred and fifty pages. 



The work was deemed necessary for daily re- 

 ference in the office, and, believing the approfiria- 

 tion adequate to cover the expenses, 1 did not de- 

 lay the publication. 



A small additional appropriation from the patent 

 (iind will be required to complete payment lor th(! 

 same. 



Eleven thousand five hundred and nine patents 

 have been issued by the United States previous to 

 January, 1840. 



A large number of applications partially com- 



pleted are awaiting the reception of models and 

 treasury fee. 



The transmission of models through agents ap- 

 pointed by law in the several states atlords much 

 ii^ciiity to inventors; and if pern)ission were given 

 to deposite with collectors of public levenue the 

 |f>es required, such accommodations would obviate 

 one cause of perplexity and delay, and be more 

 especially convenient in consequence of their pre- 

 sent agency in Ibrwarding such models. 



I am happy to say the patent office building is 

 so lar completed as to afford, within a few weeks, 

 the necessary accommodation for the office, and 

 to enable the commissioner to receive the nume- 

 rous specimens of American art as contemplated 

 by the act of reorganization, and to carry out the 

 wishes of congress by collecting and distributing 

 valuable seeds ; exhibiting, also, under appropri- 

 ate classifications, the most important varieties, 

 both exotic and indigenous. 



The inquiries propounded by the honorable 

 secretary of state, in taking the next census, ren- 

 dered it necessary for the commissioner to expend 

 but a small part of the appropriation lor procuring 

 agricultural statistics. From data of so high a 

 source, the commissioner can safely predicate fu- 

 ture calculations, and hopes to present to congress 

 such details of domestic products as will be of im- 

 portance in financial estimates. 



The diplomatic corps of the United States resid- 

 inc abroad, have been solicited to aid in procuring 

 valuable seeds, and the officers of the navy, with 

 the approbation of the honorable secretary of that 

 department, have been requested to convey to the 

 patent office, for distribution, such seeds as may 

 1)6 offered. In many cases, no charges will be 

 made lor seeds. If small expenses do arise, they 

 can be reimbursed by appropriations from the pa- 

 tent fund, daily accumulating, and consecrated 

 specially to the promotion of the arts and sciences. 



The cheerfulness with which the diplomatic 

 corps and the officers of the navy have received 

 the request of this office, justify sanguine anticipa- 

 tions from this new undertaking. 



With the additional assistance granted last ses- 

 sion, and correspondent exertions on the part of 

 those connected v/ith the bureau, the business in 

 each branch is brought up. Less delay will, I 

 trust, arise in future applications. 



The number of caveats issued in 1839 was two 

 hundred and twenty-five. 



The number of applications for patents the same 

 year exceeds eight hundred. One-half of tliese 

 liave been rejected on examination. That the in- 

 vestigations of the office have not been conducted 

 without care and attention, may perhaps he infer- 

 red from the fact that no appeal has been taken 

 liom the decision of the commissioner on these 

 cases. These rejections will show patentees, that 

 they are protected from interference, to a great 

 extent, and the public generally, how much they 

 are guarded against useless or invalid patents. 



I only add that a small appropriation will be re- 

 quired to continue present periodicals 'aken at the 

 office, together with some additional standard 

 works which are needed for daily reli?rence. 

 Verv respectfully, 



Your obedient servant, 

 Henry L. Kllsworth. 

 Hon. R. M. Johnson, 



Prenichni of the Senate of the United States. 



