Ex. Doc. No. 48. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ROOM FOR THE ARRANGEMENT OF MODELS. LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 12th of January, 1848, in relation to the provision of room in the Patent Office building, for the arrangement of models in such a manner that the examiners may have that access to them which is necessary to a discharge of their duties. MARCH 13, 1848. Referred to the Committee on Patents, and ordered to be printed. PATENT OFFICE, March 7, 1848. SIR: In compliance with the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 12th of January last, requesting me to communicate to the House "what legislation is necessary to provide room in the Patent Office building for the arrangement of models, in such a manner as to give the examiners such access to them as is necessary for them in the discharge of their duties," I have the honor to state, that the rooms and apartments in the Patent Office building, now appropriated to the use of the Patent Office, are inadequate for its accommodation. The Commissioner of Patents is required by law to receive and keep in appropriate rooms all models of machines not patented, but awaiting their turn for examination. These models, by the uniform custom and usage of the Patent Office, are kept in rooms appropriated for the purpose, to which no persons are permitted to have access except the proper officers of the Patent Office. All the rooms now appropriated, or which can be appropriated, to this class of models, are now so crowded as greatly to impede the con venience of the examiners who are obliged by their duties to have access to them. The Commissioner is also required by law to classify and arrange, for public inspection, all models of inventions which have been patented. The large room in the western part of the building, on the second floor, was appropriated to that purpose when the Patent Office was removed to the building which it now occupies. But that spacious room has become wholly inadequate for the purpose for which it was designed, and I have been obliged to fit up a room in the basement story for the reception and arrangement of patented models. That is not now sufficient. Both of the rooms occupied by the patented models have become so much crowded as, in a great measure, to defeat the intention of the law requiring that description of models to be classified and arranged conveniently for public inspection, and to interfere greatly with the convenience and rapid despatch of business in the Patent Office. The law also requires the Commissioner to classify and arrange in suitable cases, conveniently for public inspection, the unpatented models. For the arrangement of this class of models, the whole western half of the basement story of the Patent Office building has been appropriated. Although this class of models have become numerous, the room appropriated to them is not now crowded, but will be in a very few years. All the rooms in the eastern half of the building on the second floor, are appropriated to the offices of the Commissioner, examiners and clerks. Those rooms are now just sufficient to accommodate the persons employed in the Patent Office, by requiring at least two, (with the exception of the rooms of the Commissioner, chief clerk and draughtsman,) and sometimes three persons, to occupy the same room. If the bill now pending in Congress, to increase the number of clerks, shall become a law, there will not be a sufficient number of rooms in the building for the accommodation of the increased force of the office. The national gallery is chiefly occupied by articles of curiosity and specimens of natural history belonging to the exploring expedition. They were placed there in conformity with an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for publishing an account of the discoveries of the exploring expedition under the command of Lieutenant Wilkes, of the United States navy," approved August 26, 1842. They are to remain in the national gallery until the completion of the building of the Smithsonian Institution, to which they have been assigned by the act of Congress establishing that institution. I am informed that the Smithsonian Institution will not be ready to receive them before the lapse of three or four years. Consequently, they must remain in the national gallery, unless otherwise disposed of by Congress. I have no control over them whatever, they being exclusively in the keeping of Congress. The curiosities and specimens of the exploring expedition are very carefully arranged, and in such a manner as to exhibit them. to the best advantage. They are, indeed, objects of interest and curiosity to all, and of value to the scientific public who visit the national gallery. But, in my estimation, they are not of such immediate practical value as the models of inventions which are designed to illustrate discoveries and improvements in the useful arts. They should not, therefore, be permitted to occupy room in the Patent Office building which is necessary for the suitable display of the models of patented inventions. If the national gallery were appropriated for the reception of models, it would afford ample room for that purpose for many years to come. If a portion of it were assigned to models, it would be sufficient for some years. And, in my judgment, a part of the curiosities and specimens of the exploring expedition may be more compactly arranged, and thus room may be obtained for the exhibition of the more valuable models in the national gallery. There is no doubt but the valuable curiosities and specimens. brought home by the exploring expedition are objects of great public interest, and attract a large number of persons to the Patent Office, who come to inspect them in connection with the models and other objects of interest belonging to the Patent Office. And, in my view, they neither detract from the character of the government of the United States, nor injure the reputation of the Patent Office. On the contrary, they, in connection with the models, &c., are deemed by intelligent foreigners who visit this city, as well as by our own citizens, highly creditable to both the government and the office. But it is for Congress to say whether or not any portion of the Patent Office building shall be permanently used as a museum, in which specimens of natural history, and other objects. of curious interest, not immediately connected with the business and objects of the Patent Office, shall be exhibited. In view of the facts and considerations above set forth, it is very apparent that the rooms now occupied by the Patent Office for models, and for the accommodation of the Commissioner and clerks, are not sufficient for those purposes. There would be sufficient room for the suitable arrangement of models for a few years, if the national gallery were applied to that use. But there will not be a sufficient number of rooms for the accommodation of the persons employed in the Patent Office, if the addition contemplated by the bill now pending in Congress is made to the official corps of the office. Therefore, in answer to the particular inquiry contained in the resolution of the House of Representatives, I respectfully state, that the legislation now required for such an arrangement of the models as will accommodate the examiners of the Patent Office, and also the public, is the passage of an act placing the national gallery at the disposal of the Commissioner, to be occupied by the classified models of patented inventions. If it shall be deemed expedient at this time to provide suitable rooms for the accommodation and convenience of the official corps of the Patent Office, it can be done by authorizing the erection, as soon as may be, of the eastern wing contemplated in the plan of the Patent Office building adopted by Congress. And, as both wings will, in a very few years, be necessary for the convenience of the Patent Office, it may be considered best to commence the erection of both at the same time. It will probably take two or three years for their completion after they shall have been commenced, and by that time the business of the office, and consequently the number of the models, will have so much increased as to render the two contemplated wings very necessary. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, To the Hon. ROBERT C. WINTHROP, |