Volume 15 (1867) (424 pages)

She Mining andl Srientitic Dress, Gommnunientions. In tas Derpartnent we invite the FREE Discussion of all pegner GG er tue alone bejug responsible for he ideas and theories they advance, {Wrltien for the Mining and Scientific Press.} The Reese River Country and its Mines. BY A. J. HOWK, {Continned from Page 402.] PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT—CONTINUED, There are a number of locations in this belt, which isof gray slate. They are known as the Transylvania, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, El Dorado, and Child & Canfield. The latter has produced a large quantity of astonishingly rich ore, aud the company will soon erect one of the largest mills yet built’ in Nevada. On the Transylvania No. 2, the most thorough developments are progressing, and the machinery for a forty-stamp mill is ready to he freighted over the Sierra Nevada as soon as the roads will permit. There are other locations in this district claimed to be equally rich; and one thing seems to be certain—that is, when Belmont has the milling facilities demanded by the ore to be seen in the Transylvania belt, its ehipments will be second to no other district iu Nevada. Wood of excellent quality is sufficiently abundant in the immediate vicinity of the mines to last for several “years, while the range, both north and south, has a bountiful supply for an almost indefinite time. So little was this region known a few years ago that it was said no person could live to prospect it, owing to the scarcity of water and the hostility of the Indians. With the former, the entire section is quite as well supplied as other portions of Nevada. There are also extensive tracts of meadow land along the water courses and at their sinks; while the Indians are as quiet and harmless as any I haye seen, Nearly all of them are disposed to work for such return in provisions, clothing or money as may beoffered them. It is said that this valley below Belmont is the place where Judge Ralston perished in 1864. It might have been from hunger ; but that it could have been from want of water is improba‘ble, as the range on either side of Monitor Valley affords it in nearly all the cahons, It will be remembered that he was seen, in his delirious wandering, by friendly Indians, who offered him food, and a few days after his lifeless body was found by them. The town of Belmont is growing up rapidly. <A spirited paper, ealled the Silver Bend Reporter, has just made its appearance here. Business of all descriptions, mechanics and laborers, keep alwaye in exeess of the demand; but this will probably ‘not he the case when the new mills are in progress. This place will surely be the great central mart of Southeastern Nevada; with its own mines of fabulous wealth and surrounded on every side hy the most wonderful rich mining districts in the world, nothing can prevent it becoming such. DANVILLE RANGE Lies on theeast of Monitor Valley. Through this range a fine road is now being conetructed, passing through Alatoony Pass, which is situated nearly east of Belmont, and is twelve miles distant to the entrance at Barley creek. North of the Pass, the mountains gradually rise, till they reach an elevation of 2,500 feet above the valley, and form extensive table lands, visihle as a prominent feature from al] the higher peaks of the rdnges we have passed through from the west. On the uorth and northeast of this table land the mountains drop abruptly, Along the hase of the bluff in the depression of the range at this point is situated DANVILLE DISTRICT, Which was discovered in the snmmer of 1866. It lies about east of Northumberland, or in ‘latitnde 38° 50’, and is ou the northeastern slope of the range. The formation in which the lodes occur is principally of granite. Some of them are of great size, and will compare very well with the famous districts that surround it, Very little work has been done in the district, yet Danville will tell its own story before the present summer has past. lode has heen rated by some who have visited it as equal in promise to any of the famous mines of Hot creek, Northumberland or Silver Bend. This range of mountains is well supplied with the usual stunted timber of Central Nevada. The Clipper Gap, ‘or Stonebargers road, leading from Austin to Pahranagat, passes through this district, from whence it diverges southerly, through Fish Springs Valley, to the head of Hot Creek, where it unites with the road via Charnock’s and Alatoony Passes. Nearly east of Danville, on the opposite side of the valley, we find MOREY DISTRICT. This district was first discovered by Thos. Barnes and partyin September, 1865. However, but little was done here until the following summer of 1866. The lodes occur in a narrow belt of granite and are not numerous, but are well defined, and give great promise of permanence when properly developed. Two or three of them are of unusually lafge size for veins occurring in a granite formation. The ore has a singular yellowish-gray appearance, indicating the presence of lead in the chloride state, at the surface, while it is not of a high grade or concentrated character, hut uniformly diffused throughout the veins, rendering them equally valuable. Some of the lodes show large quantities of manganese, similar to that found at the surface in a number of the lodes of Lander Hill, at Austin. The belt to which the silver lodes are confined is in a lateral spur of the main range, but little elevated above the valley. UNDERGROUND LAKES. -In the valley between this and the Danville Range, there are a number of large cirenlar springs of clear cold water, with uo apparent outlets or inlets, all of which swarm with small fish, the great number of which lead one to suppose there must be more ample scope forthem beneath the sodcovered valley. These fish springs, or, as they are sometimes called, wells, are not of unfrequent occurrences in Central Nevada or in any part of the Great Basin of Utah. All of the rivers and creeks, both large and small, silently flow a portion of their length under ground. Why not lakes be hidden in the same manner? Near the head of the Humboldt Valley we have positive evidence of this. In one of the lateral valleys at the source of the Humbholdt river there is a meadow, two miles longand half a mile wide. This, in. season, is covered with the most luxuriant growth of grass that I have seen anywhere in the great Central Basin. On this there are several hundred wells, or rather air holes, circular in form, and from three to six feet in diameter. Clear crystal water rises in all nearly to the level surface of the meadow. Several of these I have The Vanderbilt . ° sounded for bottom, which could not be found at forty feet. All these openings beeome black with small fish the instant a slight commotiou is made in the water. A person, by bringing his weight heavily down, will shake the lake for many rods around, although it is sufficiently strong to bear up scores of cattle closely collected. Ishall not soon forget the bath forced on me, several years ago, in rescuing an auimal from one of these air holes, althongh I must confess that it was timely, in a-sanitary or ahluent sense, . ‘Now that we have established the existence of lakes under ground, what freak of nature or the elements caused it? Several hundred miles further east, near the head of Sweetwater river, in Utah, we find the possible solution. There isa valley of about the same extent as the one just described ; on digging through the soil in any part of it two or three feet, we come to a bed of solid ice, as firm and clear as crystal, the depth of which has never been determined. The most uatural conclusion to be arrived at is, that at an ancient date, this, which was once a lake, was frozen toa great depth, and hy an unusually heavy storm of rain, the soil from the hills on either side was washed down upon it, and it has remained frozen for ages. Had this occurred in the milder climate of the lower valleys further west, the ice would have long since melted and left a sod-covered lakelet. The preponderance of vegetable matter supporting the soil is but a fibrous wiry matt on its surface. Returning to Alatoony Pass, we will take our course eastward. Soon after leaving the Pass, we reach Willow creek. Along. its course, near the sink, there is considerable good farming land, which has been taken up for that purpose. At this point there isa short low range of hills in the center of what I have called (for want of a more appropriate name) Fish Springs Valley. However, I believe the valley lying east of the Hot Creek mountains was the one originally called by that name, {To be Continued.) tparties are opposing him, pany e Facts About Patent Matters. NUMBER FOUR. HOW TO OBTAIN A PATENT—THE PREPARATION OF THECASE. Of course, in letters like these, written for the general information of the public at large, it cannot be expected that the subject should be treated with that copiousness and precision that would characterize a professional work written for the use of lawyers andpatentagents. All that willbe attempted will be to state briefly, the general principles that govern the matter, so that every person can have @ tolerably correct idea of the subject, and thus he able to determine for himself whether or not he has a patentable invention. As soon as a person has completed an invention he should proceed to make his application for a patent. The first step is to makes model, which, if possible, should be a working model—that is, a perfect working . machine—just such as the large one is inteuded to befor use. It must not occupy over one cubic foot of space, should he made of walnut or other hard wood or metal, neatly made and varnished, and there should be as little glue about it as possible, as it is otherwise apt to come apart after a time. If made of metal, brass or composition is preferable to iron or steel, on account of the liability of the latter to rust. As all the models, whether patented or rejected are kept in the office for public exhibition, where they are examined by people from all parts of Europe as wellas our own couutry, every one will see the importance both in a personal] and national sense, of making them neat aud not clumsy. ; The next step is to make duplicate drawings of it, oue sheet being on thick stiff drawing paper, to be kept in the office at Washington for use in making examinations, and the othersheet on vellum oil silk, or other thin strong material that will hear folding and transportation, and which is to be attached to the patent wheu issued to the inventor. The drawings shonld be on sheets 10 by 15 inches, and should generally be in . perspective, with such detached plan and sectional views, as may be necessary to show fully and plainly all the parts and operations of the device whatever it may be. The drawiugs must be ‘artistically executed,” aud should be carefully shaded or colored. If different parts of the device are to be constructed of different material, as for instance the union of steel and other kinds of metal, then the parts should be so colored as to show the difference. So if one part is to he of wood, and another of metal or other material, the same rule should be observed. The preparation of the drawings is a matter of utmost importance, and should never be entrusted to any but a competent draughtsman. The importance of this will be understood when I state that the examinations at the patent office are conducted almost entirely by means of those thick drawinge, Suppose, for instance, that aparty makes an application for an important invention, some fixture of which is not clearly shown iu his drawiog. Although the examiner, by means of the specification and model can understand the case, that is not enough ; either for the office, or the protection of the inventor. If itis a valuable thing, others will be endeavoring to pirate it, by making applications for devices containing that same feature; and then, especially if a new examiner has been appointed in charge of that class by 2 change in the administration or otherwise, the new examiner, having no knowledge of the original case, will look over the drawings, and not finding that feature tMere, will of course issue a patent for the same thing to the second applicant also? Even if there has been no change in the examiner, the same thing is likely to happen, because haviug several: hundred and even thousands of eases to look over at each examination, it is utterly impossible for him to retain in his mind the particular features ofeach ease. And thus, fault is often found with the patent office, when really the blame rests entirely upon the applicant, who, being too stingy to pay for proper drawings, is thus the cause of his own loss. To be sure tho original applicant may, if he finds out that another party has a suhsequent patent for his device, protect his rights hy a resort to the courts; but in the first place he will not be likely to knowanythiug about it for years, or until the other party has disposed of his interest to innocent parties ; and cyen if he does he will find himself pnt to a heavy expense, all of which might have been prevented by the expenditure of two or three dollars more on his drawiugs in the first. place, Again, if he be a poor man, anda wealthy company, or combination of may keep the case in law by appeale and delays, until he is ruined, and the value of his patent destroyed. Of course, the mere existence of such suits would prevent the purchase of rights by others from him, becanse men do not like to huy a lawsuit, nor pay their money for a thing that may prove of no value to them, And then, even if he succeeds in the end, in asserting his rights in the courts, his patent will have nearly or quite expired, and, as under the law of 1861, there can be no more extensions, he will find himself with money, time and invention all gone, and no help for it. And all this in consequence of not having a little drawing, which at most would not cost to exceed five or ten dollars, properly prepared. The next step is to prepare the specification; and this is the most important part of all. No matter how perfect the model and drawing, if the specification is not complete the case will not be examined at the office. It will be returned until it is perfect, and the office even has the right to require that it shall be printed, if there is difficulty in making it plain otherwise. The most important requirement is, that it shall clearly and fully describe the invention, and how to coustruct and operate it. The description should be such that a mechanic or person ~ skilled in the art to which it belongs, will be able to make one from the description. It is not necessary to describe those portions which form no part of the invention, except so far as may be necessary to explain the operation of the new parts. Yet every thing depends upon the description and claim. The latter is especially important, as upon the meaning, force and construction of the language employed, depends the whole value of the patent, if issued, as well as the question of its issue atall. To properly prepare a specification may seem a very simple and easy task, hut such is not the case. It requires a knowledge of the arts, of science and scientific terms, and their proper use—of mechanics and the principles that govern their action—of law, and of the grammatical and legal foree and construction of language, which is possessed by but very few persons. Lawyers seldom possess the mechanical knowledge, while mechanics still more generally lack the legal kuowledge necessary to enable them to properly prepare a case for examination. It requires such 2 combination of legal and mechanical knowledge, together with a special knowledge of the principles and rules that govern the action of the office, that no person is really competent to undertake the business but those who have made ita study, or had eaperience at i, In the language of a recent writer on Patents and Patent Laws—‘‘ Mistakes of importance are not unfrequently made by those who are trained to this work, and who make it their special bnsiness; hutit can very seldom if ever be safe for any claimant to draw his own specification, unless he has large experience in work of this kind.” Thereason for this will readily appear when it is understood that the learned Judge Story denominated the patent branch of our jurisprudence as the ‘metaphysics of the law,” —having more subtle and nice distinctions than any other branch of law. In view of these facts, I unlesitatingly advise every per-. son who has an invention worth patenting, to get some responsible and competent agent to attend to it for him. No person scarcely would think of entering upon 2 suit at law, without employing a lawyer to attend to it, and make out his papers for him ; and if a sensible man would not do that, much less would he, attempt to prepare an application for a patent without knowing anything about the business. I am aware that persons frequently attempt it, but Tam also aware that many lose their patent simply in consequence of not having their case properly prepared, or not knowing how to amend it so as to avoid the references given, when once rejecied. Besides this, many times when they succeed in obtaining the patent, they find afterwards that it will not stand in law, or does not cover their invention, and is, therefore, useless. It is for this reason that many applicants are compelled to re-issue their patents at as great and often greater expeuse than the obtaining of the original. Hence, Irepeat, every person having an invention worth patenting, should employ a competent aud responsible agent—I say competent and resporsible—for, unfortunately there are many who are neither competent or responsible, and, of them and their tricks, I shall have somewhat to cay hereafter:—W. E. Dodge in Prairie Farmer Co-6prRative Lazor.—A curious cireumstance has been citedin favor of eodperative labor, that when England was at war with Turkey, the merchant vessels of Greece, then a Turkish dependency, almost always escaped from their pursuers. The secret of their suecess was thought to be in the fact that on board of the Greek vessels, every. man, from the captain to the cabin boy, had a pecuniary interest in the vessel and freight. oe

She Mining andl Srientitic Dress, Gommnunientions. In tas Derpartnent we invite the FREE Discussion of all pegner GG er tue alone bejug responsible for he ideas and theories they advance, {Wrltien for the Mining and Scientific Press.} The Reese River Country and its Mines. BY A. J. HOWK, {Continned from Page 402.] PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT—CONTINUED, There are a number of locations in this belt, which isof gray slate. They are known as the Transylvania, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, El Dorado, and Child & Canfield. The latter has produced a large quantity of astonishingly rich ore, aud the company will soon erect one of the largest mills yet built’ in Nevada. On the Transylvania No. 2, the most thorough developments are progressing, and the machinery for a forty-stamp mill is ready to he freighted over the Sierra Nevada as soon as the roads will permit. There are other locations in this district claimed to be equally rich; and one thing seems to be certain—that is, when Belmont has the milling facilities demanded by the ore to be seen in the Transylvania belt, its ehipments will be second to no other district iu Nevada. Wood of excellent quality is sufficiently abundant in the immediate vicinity of the mines to last for several “years, while the range, both north and south, has a bountiful supply for an almost indefinite time. So little was this region known a few years ago that it was said no person could live to prospect it, owing to the scarcity of water and the hostility of the Indians. With the former, the entire section is quite as well supplied as other portions of Nevada. There are also extensive tracts of meadow land along the water courses and at their sinks; while the Indians are as quiet and harmless as any I haye seen, Nearly all of them are disposed to work for such return in provisions, clothing or money as may beoffered them. It is said that this valley below Belmont is the place where Judge Ralston perished in 1864. It might have been from hunger ; but that it could have been from want of water is improba‘ble, as the range on either side of Monitor Valley affords it in nearly all the cahons, It will be remembered that he was seen, in his delirious wandering, by friendly Indians, who offered him food, and a few days after his lifeless body was found by them. The town of Belmont is growing up rapidly. <A spirited paper, ealled the Silver Bend Reporter, has just made its appearance here. Business of all descriptions, mechanics and laborers, keep alwaye in exeess of the demand; but this will probably ‘not he the case when the new mills are in progress. This place will surely be the great central mart of Southeastern Nevada; with its own mines of fabulous wealth and surrounded on every side hy the most wonderful rich mining districts in the world, nothing can prevent it becoming such. DANVILLE RANGE Lies on theeast of Monitor Valley. Through this range a fine road is now being conetructed, passing through Alatoony Pass, which is situated nearly east of Belmont, and is twelve miles distant to the entrance at Barley creek. North of the Pass, the mountains gradually rise, till they reach an elevation of 2,500 feet above the valley, and form extensive table lands, visihle as a prominent feature from al] the higher peaks of the rdnges we have passed through from the west. On the uorth and northeast of this table land the mountains drop abruptly, Along the hase of the bluff in the depression of the range at this point is situated DANVILLE DISTRICT, Which was discovered in the snmmer of 1866. It lies about east of Northumberland, or in ‘latitnde 38° 50’, and is ou the northeastern slope of the range. The formation in which the lodes occur is principally of granite. Some of them are of great size, and will compare very well with the famous districts that surround it, Very little work has been done in the district, yet Danville will tell its own story before the present summer has past. lode has heen rated by some who have visited it as equal in promise to any of the famous mines of Hot creek, Northumberland or Silver Bend. This range of mountains is well supplied with the usual stunted timber of Central Nevada. The Clipper Gap, ‘or Stonebargers road, leading from Austin to Pahranagat, passes through this district, from whence it diverges southerly, through Fish Springs Valley, to the head of Hot Creek, where it unites with the road via Charnock’s and Alatoony Passes. Nearly east of Danville, on the opposite side of the valley, we find MOREY DISTRICT. This district was first discovered by Thos. Barnes and partyin September, 1865. However, but little was done here until the following summer of 1866. The lodes occur in a narrow belt of granite and are not numerous, but are well defined, and give great promise of permanence when properly developed. Two or three of them are of unusually lafge size for veins occurring in a granite formation. The ore has a singular yellowish-gray appearance, indicating the presence of lead in the chloride state, at the surface, while it is not of a high grade or concentrated character, hut uniformly diffused throughout the veins, rendering them equally valuable. Some of the lodes show large quantities of manganese, similar to that found at the surface in a number of the lodes of Lander Hill, at Austin. The belt to which the silver lodes are confined is in a lateral spur of the main range, but little elevated above the valley. UNDERGROUND LAKES. -In the valley between this and the Danville Range, there are a number of large cirenlar springs of clear cold water, with uo apparent outlets or inlets, all of which swarm with small fish, the great number of which lead one to suppose there must be more ample scope forthem beneath the sodcovered valley. These fish springs, or, as they are sometimes called, wells, are not of unfrequent occurrences in Central Nevada or in any part of the Great Basin of Utah. All of the rivers and creeks, both large and small, silently flow a portion of their length under ground. Why not lakes be hidden in the same manner? Near the head of the Humboldt Valley we have positive evidence of this. In one of the lateral valleys at the source of the Humbholdt river there is a meadow, two miles longand half a mile wide. This, in. season, is covered with the most luxuriant growth of grass that I have seen anywhere in the great Central Basin. On this there are several hundred wells, or rather air holes, circular in form, and from three to six feet in diameter. Clear crystal water rises in all nearly to the level surface of the meadow. Several of these I have The Vanderbilt . ° sounded for bottom, which could not be found at forty feet. All these openings beeome black with small fish the instant a slight commotiou is made in the water. A person, by bringing his weight heavily down, will shake the lake for many rods around, although it is sufficiently strong to bear up scores of cattle closely collected. Ishall not soon forget the bath forced on me, several years ago, in rescuing an auimal from one of these air holes, althongh I must confess that it was timely, in a-sanitary or ahluent sense, . ‘Now that we have established the existence of lakes under ground, what freak of nature or the elements caused it? Several hundred miles further east, near the head of Sweetwater river, in Utah, we find the possible solution. There isa valley of about the same extent as the one just described ; on digging through the soil in any part of it two or three feet, we come to a bed of solid ice, as firm and clear as crystal, the depth of which has never been determined. The most uatural conclusion to be arrived at is, that at an ancient date, this, which was once a lake, was frozen toa great depth, and hy an unusually heavy storm of rain, the soil from the hills on either side was washed down upon it, and it has remained frozen for ages. Had this occurred in the milder climate of the lower valleys further west, the ice would have long since melted and left a sod-covered lakelet. The preponderance of vegetable matter supporting the soil is but a fibrous wiry matt on its surface. Returning to Alatoony Pass, we will take our course eastward. Soon after leaving the Pass, we reach Willow creek. Along. its course, near the sink, there is considerable good farming land, which has been taken up for that purpose. At this point there isa short low range of hills in the center of what I have called (for want of a more appropriate name) Fish Springs Valley. However, I believe the valley lying east of the Hot Creek mountains was the one originally called by that name, {To be Continued.) tparties are opposing him, pany e Facts About Patent Matters.

NUMBER FOUR. HOW TO OBTAIN A PATENT—THE PREPARATION OF THECASE. Of course, in letters like these, written for the general information of the public at large, it cannot be expected that the subject should be treated with that copiousness and precision that would characterize a professional work written for the use of lawyers andpatentagents. All that willbe attempted will be to state briefly, the general principles that govern the matter, so that every person can have @ tolerably correct idea of the subject, and thus he able to determine for himself whether or not he has a patentable invention. As soon as a person has completed an invention he should proceed to make his application for a patent. The first step is to makes model, which, if possible, should be a working model—that is, a perfect working . machine—just such as the large one is inteuded to befor use. It must not occupy over one cubic foot of space, should he made of walnut or other hard wood or metal, neatly made and varnished, and there should be as little glue about it as possible, as it is otherwise apt to come apart after a time. If made of metal, brass or composition is preferable to iron or steel, on account of the liability of the latter to rust. As all the models, whether patented or rejected are kept in the office for public exhibition, where they are examined by people from all parts of Europe as wellas our own couutry, every one will see the importance both in a personal] and national sense, of making them neat aud not clumsy. ; The next step is to make duplicate drawings of it, oue sheet being on thick stiff drawing paper, to be kept in the office at Washington for use in making examinations, and the othersheet on vellum oil silk, or other thin strong material that will hear folding and transportation, and which is to be attached to the patent wheu issued to the inventor. The drawings shonld be on sheets 10 by 15 inches, and should generally be in . perspective, with such detached plan and sectional views, as may be necessary to show fully and plainly all the parts and operations of the device whatever it may be. The drawiugs must be ‘artistically executed,” aud should be carefully shaded or colored. If different parts of the device are to be constructed of different material, as for instance the union of steel and other kinds of metal, then the parts should be so colored as to show the difference. So if one part is to he of wood, and another of metal or other material, the same rule should be observed. The preparation of the drawings is a matter of utmost importance, and should never be entrusted to any but a competent draughtsman. The importance of this will be understood when I state that the examinations at the patent office are conducted almost entirely by means of those thick drawinge, Suppose, for instance, that aparty makes an application for an important invention, some fixture of which is not clearly shown iu his drawiog. Although the examiner, by means of the specification and model can understand the case, that is not enough ; either for the office, or the protection of the inventor. If itis a valuable thing, others will be endeavoring to pirate it, by making applications for devices containing that same feature; and then, especially if a new examiner has been appointed in charge of that class by 2 change in the administration or otherwise, the new examiner, having no knowledge of the original case, will look over the drawings, and not finding that feature tMere, will of course issue a patent for the same thing to the second applicant also? Even if there has been no change in the examiner, the same thing is likely to happen, because haviug several: hundred and even thousands of eases to look over at each examination, it is utterly impossible for him to retain in his mind the particular features ofeach ease. And thus, fault is often found with the patent office, when really the blame rests entirely upon the applicant, who, being too stingy to pay for proper drawings, is thus the cause of his own loss. To be sure tho original applicant may, if he finds out that another party has a suhsequent patent for his device, protect his rights hy a resort to the courts; but in the first place he will not be likely to knowanythiug about it for years, or until the other party has disposed of his interest to innocent parties ; and cyen if he does he will find himself pnt to a heavy expense, all of which might have been prevented by the expenditure of two or three dollars more on his drawiugs in the first. place, Again, if he be a poor man, anda wealthy company, or combination of may keep the case in law by appeale and delays, until he is ruined, and the value of his patent destroyed. Of course, the mere existence of such suits would prevent the purchase of rights by others from him, becanse men do not like to huy a lawsuit, nor pay their money for a thing that may prove of no value to them, And then, even if he succeeds in the end, in asserting his rights in the courts, his patent will have nearly or quite expired, and, as under the law of 1861, there can be no more extensions, he will find himself with money, time and invention all gone, and no help for it. And all this in consequence of not having a little drawing, which at most would not cost to exceed five or ten dollars, properly prepared. The next step is to prepare the specification; and this is the most important part of all. No matter how perfect the model and drawing, if the specification is not complete the case will not be examined at the office. It will be returned until it is perfect, and the office even has the right to require that it shall be printed, if there is difficulty in making it plain otherwise. The most important requirement is, that it shall clearly and fully describe the invention, and how to coustruct and operate it. The description should be such that a mechanic or person ~ skilled in the art to which it belongs, will be able to make one from the description. It is not necessary to describe those portions which form no part of the invention, except so far as may be necessary to explain the operation of the new parts. Yet every thing depends upon the description and claim. The latter is especially important, as upon the meaning, force and construction of the language employed, depends the whole value of the patent, if issued, as well as the question of its issue atall. To properly prepare a specification may seem a very simple and easy task, hut such is not the case. It requires a knowledge of the arts, of science and scientific terms, and their proper use—of mechanics and the principles that govern their action—of law, and of the grammatical and legal foree and construction of language, which is possessed by but very few persons. Lawyers seldom possess the mechanical knowledge, while mechanics still more generally lack the legal kuowledge necessary to enable them to properly prepare a case for examination. It requires such 2 combination of legal and mechanical knowledge, together with a special knowledge of the principles and rules that govern the action of the office, that no person is really competent to undertake the business but those who have made ita study, or had eaperience at i, In the language of a recent writer on Patents and Patent Laws—‘‘ Mistakes of importance are not unfrequently made by those who are trained to this work, and who make it their special bnsiness; hutit can very seldom if ever be safe for any claimant to draw his own specification, unless he has large experience in work of this kind.” Thereason for this will readily appear when it is understood that the learned Judge Story denominated the patent branch of our jurisprudence as the ‘metaphysics of the law,” —having more subtle and nice distinctions than any other branch of law. In view of these facts, I unlesitatingly advise every per-. son who has an invention worth patenting, to get some responsible and competent agent to attend to it for him. No person scarcely would think of entering upon 2 suit at law, without employing a lawyer to attend to it, and make out his papers for him ; and if a sensible man would not do that, much less would he, attempt to prepare an application for a patent without knowing anything about the business. I am aware that persons frequently attempt it, but Tam also aware that many lose their patent simply in consequence of not having their case properly prepared, or not knowing how to amend it so as to avoid the references given, when once rejecied. Besides this, many times when they succeed in obtaining the patent, they find afterwards that it will not stand in law, or does not cover their invention, and is, therefore, useless. It is for this reason that many applicants are compelled to re-issue their patents at as great and often greater expeuse than the obtaining of the original. Hence, Irepeat, every person having an invention worth patenting, should employ a competent aud responsible agent—I say competent and resporsible—for, unfortunately there are many who are neither competent or responsible, and, of them and their tricks, I shall have somewhat to cay hereafter:—W. E. Dodge in Prairie Farmer Co-6prRative Lazor.—A curious cireumstance has been citedin favor of eodperative labor, that when England was at war with Turkey, the merchant vessels of Greece, then a Turkish dependency, almost always escaped from their pursuers. The secret of their suecess was thought to be in the fact that on board of the Greek vessels, every. man, from the captain to the cabin boy, had a pecuniary interest in the vessel and freight. oe