476 
In the evening the retiring president, Dr. F. W. 
Frerichs, presented three papers illustrating the 
solution of problems in chemical engineering 
practise as follows: ‘‘Manufacture of Chloroform 
from Alcohol,’’ ‘‘Construction of Laboratory Ap- 
paratus,’’ ‘‘Manufacture and Testing of Ship- 
ping Cylinders for Liquid Ammonia.’’ The paper 
on the ‘‘Manufacture of Chloroform from Aleco- 
hol’’ was especially interesting, as it showed that 
by the use of denatured, duty-free alcohol, chloro- 
form could be manufactured from alcohol under 
present conditions and sold at a profit. The paper 
on ‘‘Manufacture and Testing of Shipping Cyl- 
inders for Liquid Ammonia Gas’’ was supple- 
mented by the paper on ‘‘Manufacture and Test- 
ing of Carbonic Acid Cylinders,’’ by John C. 
Minor, Jr. By means of lantern slides the method 
of testing cylinders was shown, as well as the 
results of exploding such cylinders under fixed 
conditions. 
On Thursday, the institute visited the United 
States naval proving grounds at Indian Head, 
Md. This proved one of the most interesting 
excursions of the meeting. Four shots were fired 
from a twelve-inch gun. The method of loading, 
testing the pressure developed in the gun and 
velocity of the bullet were shown and inspected 
with the greatest of interest. 
The plants for contact sulphuric acid, nitric 
acid, the manufacture of ether, nitration of cellu- 
lose, powder presses, recovery drying, as well as 
the testing of the raw materials and finished prod- 
uct were inspected with the greatest of interest. 
In the evening a subscription dinner was held 
at the New Willard Hotel. Addresses were made 
by Patent Commissioner Moore, Dr. Harvey W. 
Wiley and Admiral N. C. Twining. 
On Friday morning the institute listened to a 
number of very able speakers on the United States 
patent system. A symposium had been arranged 
for the purpose of bringing out defects in the 
present system and recommendation of the reme- 
dies to be applied. The following papers had been 
prepared and were presented: 
“‘The United States Patent Office,’ HE. B. 
Moore, Patent Commissioner, U. 8. Patent Office. 
‘<Protection of Inventions by Patents. Existing 
Defects and Remedies Therefor,’’ Walter D. Ed- 
monds, of Edmonds & Peck. 
“The United States Patent System,’’ R. N. 
Kenyon, of Kenyon and Kenyon. 
It was the consensus of opinion that the present 
methods for granting of patents in use at the 
SCIENCE 
[N.S. Vou. XXXV. No. 899 
United States Patent Office are better than any 
in use by any government in the world. The 
deplorable condition at the Patent Office on ac- 
count of congestion and overcrowding due to the 
failure of the congress to provide suitable quarters 
for this most important government office, was 
brought out not only in the papers, but in the 
visit to the Patent Office during the afternoon. 
This condition prevails in spite of the fact that the 
patent bureau has been operated with such econ- 
omy that a surplus of seven million dollars has 
acerued during its operation from excess of income 
from patent fees over expenditures. 
It was also brought out that the most serious 
defects in our present patent system are met by 
the inventor after his patent has been granted. 
Intolerable delays oceur, and enormous expense is 
involved in patent litigation, so that in numerous 
cases the patentee who does not have the strongest 
financial backing is defrauded of his rights by 
wealthy and powerful corporations. The remedy 
suggested for this condition of affairs consists in 
the establishment of a patent court in which all 
patent cases will be held, and also the hearing of 
all testimony in such cases in open court instead 
of before a referee. 
On Friday afternoon the educational discussion 
which has been carried on at various meetings of 
the institute was continued, and the committee on 
education was requested to formulate the opinion 
of the institute on this important question and 
transmit copies of same to the universities and 
technical schools in the United States giving chem- 
ical engineering education. 
On Friday evening, a paper was read by Mr. 
F. G. Wheeler on the ‘‘ Adaptation of the Centri- 
fugal Pump to Chemical Service.’’ A complete 
discussion of the theories of the pump and all 
designs and makes with their behavior under 
operating conditions was given. The pump was 
illustrated with numerous lantern slides giving 
views of the pumps discussed. 
A number of members of the institute visited 
on Saturday the steel plant at Sparrows Point, 
Baltimore, and the cement plant of the Tidewater 
Portland Cement Co. 
The attendance at the meeting was excellent, 
and general satisfaction expressed at the results 
accomplished. 
J. C. OLSEN, 
Secretary 
POLYLECHNIC INSTITUTE, 
BROOKLYN, N. Y. 
