the latter, a bureau of statistics has been established, at the head of which has been placed one of her most intelligent and talented citizens. A most interesting view of the vast resources of this great republic would be annually exhibited, if all the States should follow the example of Louisiana and Massachusetts. The statesman and legislator, to whom the people commit the destinies of their common country, would then have at their hands ample material to aid them in the intelligent discharge of their momentous and responsible duties, without which, they are like blind men feeling their way in the dark. The next census, if the plan for taking it shall be well systemized and digested, will supply much valuable statistical information in relation to the population, industrial interests, wealth and resources of the republic. The patent system of the United States having existed in some form or other for nearly sixty years, and having now become a very important and interesting institution, I came to the conclusion. that a very brief statistical notice of the legislation affecting it, its financial operations, and the progress of invention as exhibited by its records, was much needed, and would be appropriate as a part of the annual report of this office. I have accordingly prepared such a statement, which is annexed, marked H. The table exhibiting the history and progress of the inventive genius of the United States contains, in a brief space, many valuable, interesting and striking facts, which cannot fail to arrest the attention of the intelligent observer. The increasing business of the Patent Office has added so much to the duties imposed upon the Chief Justice of the District, who was by the act of March 3, 1837, constituted a court of appeals from the decisions of the Commissioner of Patents, that the present compensation which he receives for that service is wholly inadequate to the labor which he is required to perform. He now receives $100 per annum as the judge of appeals from the Patent Office. Within the knowledge of the undersigned there has been a single case before the chief justice involving an amount of labor and time, which, if devoted to any other pursuit requiring the same talents and attainments for its execution, would have manded the sum he receives for, hierefore, that the present compenthat capacity for the year. It woultice should be increased to an amount which would be adequate to the duties and labors which the law imposes upon him. whole The liberal provisions made by Congress each year for the library of the Patent Office have secured extensive and valuable additions to its size and usefulness. When I first assumed the duties of Commissioner, it contained from 2,500 to 3,000 volumes. It now contains from 5,000 to 6,000 volumes, which are mainly scientific in their character. A small portion of them relate to agriculture, statistics and political economy, and are very necessary to facili tate the investigations with which the office is charged concerning the great industrial interests of the country. The vast number of bocks and periodical publications of a scientific character now in existence renders it extremely desirable that a general index, containing sufficient reference to the various volumes to enable the scientific investigator to understand the nature of their contents, should be prepared for the use of the public. Such a compilation is desirable in reference to all works of science, and it would be particularly useful and labor-saving to the Patent Office. I have, therefore, deemed it proper to recommend that a small sum be appropriated each year from the Patent Fund for the preparation and continuation of such a digest of the books and publications now in the library of the office, and of such as inay be hereafter added to it. The work should, of course, be confided to competent hands, and, when completed, it should be printed for more convenient use. If it would be deemed proper to put the work on sale for the benefit of the Patent Office, it would unquestionably enable the office to realise much more from its disposal in that way than its compilation and publication would cost. As Professor Henry, the distinguished secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, contemplates such a compilation for the library of that institution, the two works might be blended, and a most valuable index to the vast treasures of science would thus be given to the world. The business, operations, and finances of the Patent Office, have expanded rapidly within the last four years. This fact will become more strikingly visible by a contrast of the progress of the office for the last four years with its progress for the four years next preceeding. The following statement will exhibit this contrast, viz: It will be thus seen that the number of applications for patents, received during the last four years, exceeds the number received during the next preceding four years by 2,205; the number of caveats, by 670; the number of patents granted, by 289, the amount of receipts from all sources, by $77,284 45; the balance paid into the treasury to the credit of the patent fund, by $21,389 95. It should be remarked, in reference to these results, that, during the first period of four years, more than half the applications for patents were granted; whereas, during the last four years, as has been before remarked, not much, if any, more than three-fifths of them have been granted. It is also necessary to observe that, during the first four years, there was expended for the restoration of models, &c., the sum of $41,977 31. If this disbursement had been charged to the account of the expenditures of the office, there would, instead of being an excess of receipts over expenditures of $24,299 68, have been a deficiency of $17,677 63., The patent fund, therefore, instead of being actually increased, was diminished in the amount last mentioned, during the first period of four years. During the second period of four years the sum of $5,257 54 was paid out for the restoration of models, &c. This sum has been reckoned in the account of expenditures for that period, and only the actual balance stated, which was carried to the credit of the patent fund. Consequently the patent fund has been increased, during that period, in the sum of $15,689 63. On the first day of January, 1845, the patent fund amounted to the sum of $170,779 20. On the first day of January, 1849, it amounted to the sum of $216,468 83. This contrast of the business, operations, and finances of the office during the two periods above stated, is not made with a view to institute an invidious comparison between the administration of my immediate predecessor and myself-on the contrary, the affairsof the office were administered with great ability, prudence, and economy, by the late commissioner-but it is made with a view to show the progress of the institution during the last four years; which is also interesting as an indication of the progress of the country in population and wealth, and the cultivation and improvement of science and the useful arts. The exhibit which I have made in this and previous portions of my report of the affairs and business of the Patent Office, shows that it will soon be necessary not only to enlarge the Patent Office building, but to increase its clerical force. And, as it required three years of persevering effort on my part, sustained by the auxiliary aid, of loud complaints on the part of applicants for patents, growing out of the delay occasioned by the great accumulation of business which could not be done, to obtain the late addition which has been made to the clerical force of the office, I have deemed it my duty now to apprise Congress that but a very few years will elapse before another addition to the force will be necessary. As the office sustains itself from its own revenues, it seems reasonable that it should be allowed a force sufficient for the prompt and efficient execution of its duties. The law requires the Commissioner of Patents to report to Congress the operations of the Patent Office from January to January, and not from July to July, as in other branches of the government; consequently, the reports of the office cannot be commenced until after the calender year expires. The commissioner, therefore, is allowed comparatively but a very brief period for the preparation of his report, particularly in short sessions of Congress. Thus hastily prepared, it must necessarily be imperfect. And, in the desire of the undersigned to make his report at as early a day as possible, during the present session he has been necessarily compelled to defer the preparation of several tabies required to illustrate the subjects treated of in the report, until they will be needed by the printer. This explanation was deemed necessary to account for their absence. All which is respectfully submitted. EDMUND BURKE, Commissioner of Patents. To the Hon. ROBERT C. WINTHROP, 2 A. Statement of receipts for patents, caveats, disclaimers, additional improvements, recording assignments, &c., and for certified copies, in 1848, vix: $67,576_69 12,030 23 55,546 46 Deduct for money refunded on withdrawal, and for money paid in by mistake B. Statement of expenditures and payments made from the patent fund by the Commissioner of Patents, from January 1, 1848, to December 31, 1818, inclusive, under the act of March 3, 1837, and subsequent acts of Congress making provision for the expenses of the Patent Office, viz: |