REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1887-'88 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, SIR: In compliance with your communication, dated July 14, 1888, requesting a synopsis of the operations of this office for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, I have the honor to submit the following report: The condition of the business for the fiscal year 1887-'88 compares favorably with the preceding year, and considerable progress was made in bringing up the work, which for a number of years has been in arrears. The total number of applications received during the year was 40,177. On June 30, 1888, there were 7,227 cases awaiting ac tion. The number of patents granted, and trade-marks and labels registered, 22,101. The total receipts were $1,122,994.83; the expenditures $953,730.14, leaving a surplus turned into the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the patent fund of $169,264.69. I desire to renew the recommendation contained in the report of the Commissioner of Patents for the fiscal year 1886-'87 relative to the leg. islation needful in amending sections 4885, 4887, 4898, and 4930 of the Revised Statutes, and respectfully refer to my annual report made to Congress for the calendar year 1887 for a more specific discussion of these sections. In the reports of my various predecessors attention has been repeatedly called to the urgent need of increased facilities for the conduct of the business of this office by providing additional room. This is a matter becoming more and more serious each succeeding year, as the work increases in consequence of the advancement of every branch of industry. The present space allotted to the Bureau in this building is wholly inadequate to secure a prompt dispatch of the business. I cannot too earnestly urge that material relief may be given in this direction. The importance of providing more room cannot be overestimated, if the business of this Bureau is to be conducted as successful commercial men conduct theirs. I invite attention to the various reports made by the Commissioner of Patents for the past several years, treating this subject at considerable length. As before suggested, the embarrassments and difficulties increase as the business expands. Relief should be provided. for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888: Number of applications for patents..... Number of applications for design patents The following statements exhibit in detail the business of the office Number of applications for reissue patents. Number of applications for registration of trade-marks. Number of applications for registration of labels.. Number of caveats.... Total.... 34,570 1,068 140 1,309 682 2,408 40,277 Number of patents granted, including reissues and designs 20, 653 1,083 365 Number of labels registered... Total Number of patents withheld for non-payment of final fees... 22, 101 2,957 11,611 Balance in the Treasury of the United States on account of patent fund. Number of applications awaiting action on the part of the office. W. W. GODDING, M. D., Superintendent and ex-officio Secretary of Board of Visitors. A. C. PATTERSON, M. D., Third Assistant Physician and Chief Clerk. J. C. SIMPSON, M. D., Fourth Assistant Physician. I. W. BLACKBURN, M. D., Special Pathologist. J. V. CALVER, D. D. S., Dentist. INT 88-VOL III-32 497 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS. GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, Washington, D. C., August, 17, 1888. SIR: In accordance with the requirements of the statutes the Board of Visitors submit this their thirty-third annual report. In the following tables they present a statement of the movements in population and results obtained at the institution during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888: |