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All the cargoes were total losses. The captain of the schooner Thayer, which went ashore at Sheboygan, Wis., says that if there had been a harbor of refuge on the east shore of Lake Michigan he could have saved his vessel; as it was, he lost his vessel and cargo.

H. Ex. 139-2

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A communication from the Secretary of the Interior, recommending an ap propriation for twenty-five additional assistant examiners of patents.

MARCH 27, 1882.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, dated the 24th instant, with accompanying letter of the Commissioner of Patents, submitting a supplemental estimate for an appropri ation of $52,500 for the employment of twenty-five assistant principal examiners of patents, at an annual salary of $2,100 each. The matter is commended for the consideration of Congress. CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 27, 1882.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, March 25, 1882. SIR: I have the ho nor to transmit herewith, with my approval, copies of a letter of the Commissioner of Patents, togther with a supplemental estimate for an appropriation of $52,500 for the employment of twentyfive assistant principal examiners of patents, at an annual salary of $2,100 each, the increase of force being necessary, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Patents, to properly and promptly transact the greatly augmented work of his office, and asks the favorable consideration of Congress.

Very respectfully,

The PRESIDENT.

S. J. KIRKWOOD,

Secretary.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES PATENT Office, Washington, D. C., March 22, 1882. SIR: I have the honor to herewith transmit a supplemental estimate (in duplicate) for twenty-five assistant principal examiners for this office at a salary of $2,100 each, aggregating $52,500, and to request that you will recommend to Congress such legislation as may be necessary to provide for the appointment of that number of persons at the commencement of the next fiscal year, and the appropriation of the sum`named to pay the salaries of the same.

This increase of force is required in order to properly and promptly transact the work of this office. During the last calendar year there was an increase in the number of cases received over the prior year of 3,047. The increase in receipts during the year over the prior year was $103,980.57. After paying all expenses of the bureau for the year, there was a net surplus turned into the Treasury of the United States of $248,492.61.

At the close of business hours on the 20th instant, the books of this office showed that there had been an increase in the receipts of the office for the first sixty-six working days of the year over the same period for last year of $36,711.23, being an increase of over $550 for each working day, and the increase in applications for the same time was 1,182.

During the time I have been connected with the office the force has never been sufficient to properly transact the business committed to it. The great increase in business, as shown by the facts above stated, makes it absolutely necessary, if the work committed to the office is to be properly done, that the force shall be increased. It is impossible to increase the force by adding new divisions, because if the divisions were provided there are no rooms in the building for such divisions to occupy. The only other way in which the examining corps can be made more efficient, as the office is now organized, is, as I think, by adding one person to each division. There are now 25 examining divisions in the office, and by giving to each of these divisions another assistant, the efficiency of the corps can be increased without requiring more

room.

The reason why I have estimated for assistant principal examiners instead of those of lower grade is, because it is desirable to have in each division a person so thoroughly versed in all of the classes of inventions assigned to that division that should the principal resign, or be removed for any cause, there will be a person qualified to take his place. Aside from that reason, however, the field of invention is so enlarged, and the duties placed upon the principal examiner are so increased by the number of patents which have been issued for inventions in this and in other countries, that it is necessary the principal examiner should have assistance of a better kind and character than he would have by adding to his corps assistants of a lower grade than are now provided.

It is due to the inventor who files his application for a patent that said application shall be thoroughly and fairly examined and, if the applicant is entitled to a patent for the invention or discovery therein set forth, that he receive his patent therefor. It is due to the public that patents shall not be granted unless some new and useful invention is disclosed. This work cannot be properly and promptly done without an increase in the examining corps, and I know of no way by which it can be so effectively accomplished as the one herein proposed.

I therefore request your earnest attention to this matter, and that you will give it such recommendation and assistance as its importance demands.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. S. J. KIRKWOOD,

Secretary of the Interior.

E. M. MARBLE,

Commissioner.

Estimates of appropriation required for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883,

by the Commissioner of Patents.

SALARIES, OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS.

For twenty-five assistant principal examiners, at $2,100 each.......

$52,500 00

1st Session.

No. 141.

RELIEF AFFORDED SUFFERERS FROM THE OVERFLOW OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

LETTER

FROM

THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

IN RESPONSE TO

A resolution of the House of Representatives, setting forth the relief afforded the sufferers from the overflow of the Mississippi River by the govern

ment.

MARCH 28, 1882.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, March 28, 1882. The Secretary of War, in response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 22d instant, in which he is requested to inform the House of Representatives "what further relief, in his judgment, from the information now before him, is necessary for the relief of the sufferers from the present overflow of the Mississippi River and its tributaries," has the honor to submit that, from the two appropriations, aggregating $250,000, already made, there have been purchased about two millions of rations, consisting mainly of flour, meal, and meat, nearly all of which have been placed in the hands of State commissioners. It is not anticipated that further requests for subsistence will be received from the States of Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. It is estimated that about fifty thousand persons in Mississippi, twenty thousand persons in Arkansas, three thousand persons in Tennessee, and fifty thousand persons in Louisiana are now receiving subsistence, and that the supplies already directed by this department to be issued in those States will be consumed by the 13th day of April in Arkansas, by the 7th day of April in Mississippi, and by the 7th day of April in Louisiana, and that the supply is already exhausted in Tennessee. The department is informed by the latest official reports that in addition to the supplies which have been already sent, about three hundred thousand additional rations will be needed in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi, and five hundred thousand in Louisiana, and that these supplies will probably be sufficient to subsist the destitute until they can sustain themselves.

There is yet on hand a small supply of subsistence, which will be issued immediately, but to meet the above requests would require an ad

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