Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents to Congress for the Year ending December 31, 1885
Laid before the Senate by the President pro tempore February 15, 1886, ordered to lie on the table and be printed
Department of the Interior
United States Patent Office
Washington, January 30, 1886
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled:
Section 494 of the Revised Statutes makes it the duty of the Commissioner of Patents to "lay before Congress" an Annual Report, which shall exhibit, first, a detailed statement of all moneys received; second, a detailed statement of all expenditures for contingent and miscellaneous expenses; third, a list of all patents granted during the preceding year; fourth, a list of all patentees with their places of residence; fifth, a list of all patents which have been extended during the year; and, lastly, such other information of the condition of the Patent Office as may be useful to Congress or the public. Before proceeding with such detailed statements and lists, I desire, in pursuance of the last requirement above referred to, to call attention of Congress to a few topics relating to the condition of this Office, which, in my judgment, materially affect its interest and prosperity.
Room
My immediate predecessor in his last Annual Report called your attention to the fact of the "utter inadequacy of room and facility for conducting the business of the Patent Office." The same difficulties which were then pointed out by him still exist. I need hardly advert to the fact that when this building was constructed it was not intended to be occupied by the several bureaus of the Department of the Interior. At the present time about one-half of the room in this building is occupied by the force of the Patent Office. It is not extravagant to assert that every room in the building could be advantageously used today by this Bureau. In the first place, each one of the twenty eight examining divisions ought to have two separate rooms. The reason for this is manifest. The primary examiner is called upon frequently to consult with applicants and their counsel, and to listen to arguments more or less extended, which cannot be properly conducted in the same room where the work of examination is proceeding without seriously retarding such work.
By act of Congress, approved July 7, 1884, the Secretary of the Interior was authorized to rent buildings for the use of the Department. I respectfully suggest that some provision should be made by the present Congress authorizing the rental of a building or buildings for the occupancy of one or more of the bureaus of the Department of the Interior, or some portions thereof, and thereby secure room which seems to be indispensable to the proper conduct of the business of this Office.
The same sanitary condition which was so graphically pointed out by my predecessor in his above mentioned report still endangers the health of the employees of this office. I cannot refrain from urging upon Congress that it was never intended that this important Bureau, upon which so largely depend the material advancement and prosperity of the country, should be restricted in its facilities for doing business in order that a large sum might be added yearly to the net surplus in the Treasury of the United States standing to the credit of the Patent Office.
Official Gazette
On Tuesday of each week the patents are issued. On the same day this Office causes to be published an Official Gazette, containing, among other things, a list of such patents, accompanied by a transcript of the claims and illustration of the invention, the names and residence of the patentees, a list of designs patented, trade marks, and labels registered, and decisions in patent cases. This publication has become an indispensable adjunct to this Office, and has taken the place of the old Patent Office Report.
On the 18th day of May, 1872, a statute was passed authorizing each Senator and Representative to designate eight public libraries to which the Gazette should be sent without charge, and fixing its subscription price at not less than five dollars per year. At that time it was less than one half its present size and worth less than half its present value. Subsequent legislation leaves it at least very doubtful as to whether this law has not in effect been repealed. It it has been, then while the publication of the Gazette has been authorized in the several appropriation acts, its distribution has been for years past and is now without express authority of law. I have called attention to the probable repeal of this statute in order that Congress may take such action in relation to the distribution and price of the Gazette as, in their judgment, may seem proper.
In this connection I invite the attention of Congress to the fact that there has never been any provision of law by which this Office has been able to secure the report of any court decision. I respectfully submit that some provision should be made by which each of the federal courts should be required to furnish immediately to the Patent Office a certified copy of any judgment, decree, decision, or opinion hereafter made or filed in any patent case. The publication in the Gazette of such decisions, in addition to the present contents, would, in my judgment, add materially to its value and circulation, and would tend much toward securing an intelligent and uniform practice in the Office.
Photolithography
A very considerable portion of the amount of money which is appropriated year by year by Congress for the disbursements and expenses of the Patent Office is expended in securing a reproduction and illustration of each invention. At the present time the best known practical method of securing a comparatively cheap and absolutely accurate reproduction and illustration is by the art of photolithography. Formerly this result was accomplished by engraving, afterward by photography, and thereafter by the present system of photolithography, which has been built upon and added to little by little until the present high standard has been reached. Each succeeding year, as the law now stands, this work is let to contracting parties. For the purpose of preparing for this work of reproduction the original drawings are transmitted by the Office to the photolithographer. As soon as the proof sheet is prepared by him it is returned to this Office, where a careful comparison is made by the employees of the Office, who are required to make personal inspection of such work. Imperfect proof sheets must be returned and corrected immediately. It is of the utmost importance that this work should be done well and without delay. On Tuesday of each week every inventor in the country has the right to expect that the patent which is to issue to him will be signed and that the Gazette will be issued. In case a maximum issue is desired and prepared for the office, the contractor must see to it that there is no failure, and his force must be at all times adequate. For manifest reasons this work must be done in the city of Washington. It is not enough that the contracting parties should be responsible and solvent, but the work must not fail. While at the present time this important work is always faithfully, promptly, and efficiently performed, still under the present system in the hands of any contractor it is liable at any time in any year to fail. A recovery upon the contractor's bond of a sum for damages would be wholly inadequate. In my judgment, provision should be made by which the prompt and proper execution of this work should be absolutely secured, and I know of no way to accomplish such result unless the work be assumed and done by the Patent Office. At present the contractor is required to reproduce a large number of additional copies of each patent and illustration, which copies are kept on sale by this Office, and from which a substantial profit is derived. Should the Office assume and hereafter perform this work for itself, undoubtedly at the outset the expense would exceed somewhat the sum which is now paid to the contractor; but, on the other hand, absolute certainty of the permanent, faithful, and proper execution of the work would be secured. I feel no doubt whatever that this important part of the daily and orderly business of this Bureau should become a part of it, and be conducted and controlled entirely within this Office.
Laboratory
In connection with this subject I desire to call attention briefly to another imperative need of the Office. In view of the rapidly advancing importance of all inventions pertaining to electricity, it seems absolutely indispensable that suitable provision should be made for the proper testing of apparatus relating to this branch of invention. For this purpose within the court of this building the immense facilities could be provided. Several times since my incumbency of this Office I have felt compelled to permit, and have permitted, the examiner in charge of this class to leave his Office and go a long distance to witness experiments which could not, for want of room and apparatus, be attempted at home.
Increase of Force
There are no employees in the service of the Government who labor more faithfully and diligently than the examining force of this Office. It is well understood that the Patent Office has never been a burden upon the treasury of the Government. On the contrary, it pays a large excess year by year into the Treasury. The examining corps is wholly insufficient to perform the important duties devolving upon it. For manifest reasons, applications for inventions should be acted upon promptly, speedily, and intelligently. At the same time I cannot safely urge upon examiners the necessity of expedition. Nothing is easier than for an examiner to pass a case without critical examination. Almost daily I am constrained to urge upon the examiners the diligence and labor necessary to keep up as nearly as may be with the rapidly accumulating work, and at the same time to see to it that no case passes their inspection without critical investigation. The Office needs an addition of two principal examiners, four first, eight second, eleven third, and fifteen fourth assistant examiners. The need of more help in this important work is imperative, and I urgently ask that it be furnished. I respectfully call attention to page 57 of the last printed report of the Secretary of the Interior upon this subject. The Office is also in need of a skillful officer to have charge of the reception of applications, and who might be called an "application clerk." Such clerk should be paid a salary of $2,000. We also need an increase of two clerks of class three and one skilled stenographer at a salary of $1,600 per annum. We also ought to have an increase of two clerks in class two. I think the good of the service further demands the employment of twenty eight examiners' clerks at $1,200 each, and of one messenger at $840.
No provision of law is made for the employment of messengers in this Office. I respectfully ask that provision be made for the employment of twenty five messenger boys at a compensation of $360 per year. Such boys would be very serviceable, and would relieve men receiving much larger salaries from all messenger and errand work, and, indeed, work which is frequently done by the examiners themselves.
Increase in Salaries
Nearly forty years ago Congress established the salary of a primary examiner at $2,500. (9 Statutes at Large, 231) Today his salary is one hundred dollars less. In 1855 the salaries of the assistant examiners were established as they at present exist. I regard these allowances as inadequate, and the practical result is that many of the most valuable examiners desert their employment every year to enter a more lucrative field. I respectfully recommend that the salary of the primary examiner be again restored to the annual compensation of $2,500. I also call attention to the fact that the salary of the Assistant Commissioner, which at present is $3,000 per year, is quite inadequate, and should be increased at least five hundred dollars. The general law also made provision that the salary of the Chief Clerk should be $2,500. Only $2,250 are appropriated yearly for this purpose. I recommend its reestablishment as it was originally. The law provides a salary of $2,000 per annum for the Law Clerk of this Office. This compensation is too small, and I respectfully recommend that it be increased to $2,500. The duties and responsibilities of the Financial Clerk of this Office are very great. His present compensation is $2,000. In my judgment it should be increased five hundred dollars. I also recommend an increase of one hundred dollars per year in the salaries of the model attendants now receiving $800.
I respectfully call attention to Appendix Q, page 271, of the "Estimates of the Appropriations, 1886-'87," where this subject is presented in a letter to the Secretary of the Interior.
With an ample force of reasonably well paid employees it would certainly follow that fewer errors would occur, much better work would result, important inventions would be acted upon and given to the country more speedily, and the usefulness as well as the revenues of the Office would be greatly enhanced, while many of the results which have brought more or less reproach upon the Patent office could and would be avoided.
Legislation
The Revised Statutes, section 4885, in regard to the date which a patent shall bear, section 4887, in regard to its limitation, section 4898, relating to assignments of patents and the record thereof, and section 4936, relating to the reimbursement of persons who have through mistake paid money into the Treasury for fees accruing at this Office, I commend respectfully to your careful attention. Some or all of these sections should probably be amended. Inasmuch, however, as I expect to be able to explain orally to the respective Committees on Patents my views upon these several statutes, I refrain from a further discussion of them here.
There is one other subject to which I wish to invite the especial attention of Congress. At the present time, in addition to his administrative duties, the Commissioner is called upon to hear all cases of appeal from the rejection of a patent by the Examiner in Chief, as well as to finally hear and determine all interference cases which may be appealed to him. Aside from the burden which this imposes upon the head of this Office there is a want of uniformity in the decisions which emanate from time to time from the respective Commissioners of Patents, which ought to be corrected. I know of no better way to correct this evil than the establishment of some tribunal, to consist of at least three judges, whose tenure of office shall be fixed, and to whom all appeals shall lie. I have no doubt that the establishment of such a tribunal with such jurisdiction would not only make it possible for the Commissioner to conduct a more successful administration of his Office, but would secure to inventors and to the public a much more intelligent and uniform exposition of the law of patents and of the important questions which now of necessity must be determined so hastily.
Conclusion
Thirty years ago there were but thirteen classes of inventions. Today we have in this Office one hundred and seventy seven distinct classes. In the year A.D. 1855, 4,435 applications for patents were received, while during the last calendar year this Office received 35,717 applications. The field of invention is widening so rapidly and the distinctions which are constantly required to be made have become so nice in many instances that the greatest care and skill are required to determine accurately what is new and what is old. Each year the history of invention becomes more elaborate and complicated, and no department of the Government more needs the services of men who are not only learned in the sciences, but who have become familiar by constant association month by month and year by year with the histories written and unwritten of inventions and the arts. I take no risk in saying that the business as well as the importance of this Office are very little understood throughout the country generally. I feel entire confidence in saying that it needs but to be understood to be appreciated and cordially commended.
Receipts
Detailed statement of all moneys received for patents, for
copies of records or drawings, or from any source whatever
Applications
Cash received $1,023,015.00
Cash refunded 3,600.00
____________
Net cash 1,019,415.00
Certificates of deposit 54,675.00
____________
Total cash and certificates 1,074,000.00
============
Copies
Cash received 74,916.70
Cash refunded 2,123.15
_________
Net cash 72,793.55
Certificates of deposit 623.30
_________
Total cash and certificates 73,416.85
=========
Recording assignments
Cash received 25,659.25
Cash refunded 1,604.15
_________
Net cash 24,055.10
Certificates of deposit 312.40
_________
Total cash and certificates 24,367.50
=========
Subscription to Official Gazette
Cash received 13,150.45
Cash refunded 76.10
_________
Net cash 13,074.35
Certificates of deposit 67.45
_________
Total cash and certificates 13,141.80
=========
Registration of labels
Cash received 4,332.00
Cash refunded 1,326.00
________
Net cash 3,006.00
Certificates of deposit 36.00
________
Total cash and certificates 3,042.00
========
Sale of old iron 31.00
=====
Aggregates
Cash received $1,141,104.40
Cash refunded 8,729.40
____________
Net cash 1,132,375.00
Certificates of deposit 55,714.15
____________
Total cash and certificates 1,188,089.15
============
Expenditures
Amount expended by this Office under the several appropriations
from January 1, 1885, to December 31, 1885
Salaries $593,599.00
Official Gazette 44,833.42
Photolithographing 85,296.95
Scientific library 4,532.19
Transportation of publications
to foreign governments 188.80
__________
Total 728,450.36
==========
Approximate amount expended by the Department of the Interior on account of this Office from January 1, 1885, to December 31, 1885 [fn.: A literal compliance with the provisions of the statute requiring "a detailed statement of all expenditures for contingent and miscellaneous expenses" is not possible, for the reason that the contingent fund for the several bureaus of this Department was consolidated by the act of March 3, 1883, and hence no part of that fund is disbursed by the Patent Office, and I am furnished only with an approximate sum, supposed to have been so expended on behalf of the Patent Office.]
Stationery $11,416.38
Postage on foreign matter 831.00
Printing and binding 230,863.93
Watch force 16,690.00
Contingent expenses, (including furniture, hardware,
carpets, ice, file holders, desks, cases, washing
towels, keeping of horse, etc., telephone, winding
clocks, and sundries) 35,127.18
___________
Total 295,928.49
============
Aggregate amount of expenditures 1,024,378.85
============
Receipts over Expenditures
Total receipts $1,188,089.15
Total expenditures 1,024,378.85
____________
Receipts over expenditures 163,710.30
============
Statement of balance in the Treasury of the United States on
account of the Patent Fund
Amount to the credit of the fund January 1, 1885 $2,781,695.28
Amount of receipts during the year 1885 1,188,089.15
____________
Total 3,969,734.43
Deduct expenditures for year 1885 1,024,378.85
____________
Balance January 1, 1886 2,945,405.58
============
Summary of the Business of the Patent Office
Number of applications for patents for inventions 34,607
Number of applications for patents for designs 862
Number of applications for reissues of patents 158
______
Total number of applications relating to patents 35,717
======
Number of caveats filed 2,552
Number of applications for registration of trade marks 1,220
Number of applications for registration of labels 728
Number of disclaimers filed 13
Number of appeals on the merits 782
______
Total 5,295
______
Total number of applications requiring
investigation and action 41,012
======
Number of patents issued, including designs 24,103
Number of patents reissued 129
Number of trade marks registered 1,067
Number of labels registered 391
______
Total 25,691
Number of patents expired during the year 12,544
Number of patents withheld for non-payment of final fee 3,588
Patents Issued
Patents issued to citizens of the United States, with the
ratio of population to each patent granted
States and Territories Patents One to
and every
Designs
Alabama 85 14,853
Arizona Territory 8 5,055
Arkansas 77 10,422
California 588 1,470
Colorado 140 1,388
Connecticut 1,011 615
Dakota Territory 47 2,876
Delaware 31 4,729
District of Columbia 148 1,200
Florida 25 10,779
Georgia 144 10,709
Idaho Territory 6 5,435
Illinois 1,907 1,613
Indiana 777 2,546
Indian Territory 3 --
Iowa 457 3,554
Kansas 230 4,330
Kentucky 228 7,231
Louisiana 76 12,367
Maine 156 4,159
Maryland 284 3,292
Massachusetts 2,243 794
Michigan 847 1,932
Minnesota 236 3,308
Mississippi 70 16,165
Missouri 705 3,075
Montana Territory 22 1,779
Nebraska 129 3,506
Nevada 10 6,226
New Hampshire 145 2,393
New Jersey 1,115 1,014
New Mexico Territory 12 9,963
New York 4,532 1,121
North Carolina 81 17,280
Ohio 1,837 1,740
Oregon 57 3,066
Pennsylvania 2,454 1,745
Rhode Island 287 963
South Carolina 80 12,444
Tennessee 159 10,147
Texas 277 5,746
Utah Territory 36 3,998
Vermont 115 2,889
Virginia 116 13,039
Washington Territory 22 3,414
West Virginia 70 8,835
Wisconsin 469 2,804
Wyoming Territory 3 6,929
United States Army 2 --
United States Navy 3 --
Total 22,555
Patents issued to citizens of foreign countries
Argentine Republic 1
Australia 1
Austria-Hungary 44
Belgium 24
Brazil 3
British Guiana 1
Canada 284
Cape of Good Hope 1
Central America 1
Chili 3
China 1
Corea 1
Cuba 4
Denmark 20
Egypt 1
England 549
France 138
Germany 298
Ireland 9
Italy 5
Mexico 9
Netherland 10
Newfoundland 4
New South Wales (Australia) 3
New Zealand 5
Norway 8
Peru 1
Russia 8
Scotland 34
South Australia 1
Spain 8
Sweden 18
Switzerland 44
United States of Columbia 1
Victoria (Australia) 4
West Indies 2
Total 1,549
Comparative statement of the business of the Office from 1837
to 1885, inclusive
Years Applica- Caveats Patents Cash Cash Surplus
tions Filed Issued Received Expended
1837 435 $29,289.08 $33,506.98
1838 520 42,123.54 37,402.10 $4,721.44
1839 425 37,260.00 34,543.51 2,716.49
1840 765 228 473 38,056.51 39,020.67
1841 847 312 495 40,413.01 52,666.87
1842 761 391 517 36,505.68 31,241.48 5,264.20
1843 819 315 531 35,315.81 30,766.96 4,538.85
1844 1,045 380 502 42,509.26 36,244.73 6,264.53
1845 1,246 452 502 51,076.14 39,395.65 11,680.49
1846 1,272 448 619 50,264.16 46,158.71 4,105.45
1847 1,531 553 572 63,111.19 41,878.35 21,232.84
1848 1,628 607 660 67,576.69 58,905.84 8,670.85
1849 1,955 595 1,070 80,752.78 77,716.44 3,036.54
1850 2,193 602 995 86,927.05 80,100.95 6,816.10
1851 2,258 760 869 95,738.61 86,916.93 8,821.68
1852 2,639 996 1,020 112,656.34 95,916.91 16,739.43
1853 2,673 901 958 121,527.45 132,869.83
1854 3,324 868 1,902 163,789.84 167,146.32
1855 4,435 906 2,024 216,459.35 179,540.33 36,919.02
1856 4,960 1,024 2,502 192,588.02 199,931.02
1857 4,771 1,010 2,910 196,132.01 211,582.09
1858 5,364 943 3,710 203,716.16 193,193.74 10,592.42
1859 6,225 1,097 4,538 245,942.15 210,278.41 35,663.74
1860 7,653 1,084 4,819 256,352.59 252.820.80 3,531.79
1861 4,643 700 3,340 137,354.44 221,491.91
1862 5,038 824 3,521 215,754.99 182,810.39 32,944.60
1863 6,014 787 4,170 195,593.29 189,414.14 6,179.15
1864 6,972 1,063 5,020 240,919.98 229,868.00 11,051.98
1865 10,664 1,937 6,616 348,791.84 274,199.34 74,593.50
1866 15,269 2,723 9,450 495,665.38 361,724.28 133,941.10
1867 21,276 3,597 13,015 646,581.92 639,263.32 7,318.60
1868 20,420 3,705 13,378 684,565.86 628,679.77 52,866.09
1869 19,271 3,624 13,986 693,145.81 486,430.78 206,715.03
1870 19,171 3,273 13,321 669,476.76 557,149.19 112,307.57
1871 19,472 3,624 13,033 678,716.46 560.595.08 118,121.38
1872 18,246 3,090 13,590 699,726.39 665,591.36 34,135.03
1873 20,414 3,248 12,864 703,191.77 691.178.98 12,012.79
1874 21,602 3,181 13,599 738,278.17 679,288.41 58,989.76
1875 21,638 3,094 16,288 743,453.36 721,657.71 21,795.65
1876 21,425 2,697 17,026 757,987.65 652,542.60 105,445.05
1877 20,308 2,869 13,619 732,342.85 613,152.62 119,190.23
1878 20,260 2,755 12,935 725,375.55 593,082.89 132,292.66
1879 20,059 2,620 12,725 703,931.47 529,638.97 174,292.50
1880 23,012 2,490 13,947 749,685.32 538,865.17 210,820.15
1881 26,059 2,406 16,584 853,665.89 605,173.28 238,492.61
1882 31,522 2,553 19,267 1,009,219.45 683,867.67 325,351.78
1833 34,576 2,741 22,383 1,146,240.00 675,234.86 471,005.14
1884 35,600 2,582 20,413 1,075,798.80 970,579.76 105,219.04
1885 35,717 2,552 24,233 1,188,098.15 1,024,378.85 163,710.30
Statement showing the number of the first patent, design patent and reissued patent, and the number of the first certificate of registration of a trade mark and a label issued in each calendar year since July 28, 1836, when the present series of numbers of letters patent commenced, together with the total number of each issued during the year. The number of patents granted prior to the commencement of this series of numbering (July 28, 1836) was 9,957. [Divided for convenience of typing into two tables KWD]
Number of first patent and certificate issued
in each calendar year
Year Patents Designs Reissues Trade Labels
Marks
1836 July 28 1
1837 110
1838 546 1
1839 1,061 7
1840 1,465 20
1841 1,923 30
1842 2,413 36
1843 2,901 1 49
1844 3,395 15 60
1845 3,872 27 67
1846 4,348 44 78
1847 4,914 103 91
1848 5,409 163 105
1849 5,992 209 128
1850 6,981 258 158
1851 7,865 341 184
1852 8,622 431 209
1853 9,512 540 229
1854 10,358 626 258
1855 12,117 683 286
1856 14,008 753 337
1857 16,324 860 420
1858 19,010 973 517
1859 22,477 1,075 643
1860 26,642 1,183 874
1861 31,005 1,366 1,106
1862 34,045 1,508 1,253
1863 37,266 1,703 1,369
1864 41,047 1,879 1,596
1865 45,685 2,018 1,844
1866 51,784 2,239 2,140
1867 60,658 2,533 2,430
1868 72,959 2,858 2,830
1869 85,503 3,304 3,250
1870 98,460 3,810 3,784 1
1871 110,617 4,547 4,223 122
1872 122,304 5,442 4,687 608
1873 134,504 6,336 5,216 1,099
1874 146,120 7,083 5,717 1,591 1
1875 158,350 7,969 6,299 2,150 233
1876 171,671 8,884 6,831 3,288 465
1877 185,813 9,686 7,452 4,247 937
1878 198,733 10,385 *8,920 5,463 1,329
*sic, actually 8,020
1879 211,078 10,975 8,529 6,918 1,821
1880 223,211 11,567 9,017 7,790 2,176
1881 236,137 12,082 9,523 8,139 2,379
1882 251,137 12,647 9,994 8,973 2,581
1883 269,820 13,508 10,265 9,920 2,885
1884 291,016 14,528 10,432 10,882 3,791
1885 310,163 15,678 10,548 11,843 4,304
1886 333,494 16,451 10,677 12,910 4,695
Number of patents and certificates of registration
issued during each calendar year
Year Patents Designs Reissues Total Trade Labels Total
Patents Marks Certi-
ficates
1836 July 28 109
1837 436
1838 515 6
1839 404 13
1840 458 10
1841 490 6
1842 488 13
1843 494 14 11 510
1844 477 12 7 495
1845 476 17 11 504
1846 566 59 13 638
1847 495 60 14 569
1848 583 46 23 652
1849 989 49 30 1,068
1850 884 83 26 993
1851 757 90 25 872
1852 800 100 20 1,019
1853 846 86 29 961
1854 1,759 57 28 1,844
1855 1,891 70 51 2,012
1856 2,316 107 83 2,506
1857 2,686 113 97 2,896
1858 3,467 102 126 3,695
1859 4,165 108 231 4,504
1860 4,363 183 232 4,778
1861 3,040 142 147 3,329
1862 3,221 195 116 3,532
1863 3,781 176 227 4,184
1864 4,638 139 248 5,025
1865 6,099 221 296 6,616
1866 8,874 294 290 9,458
1867 12,301 325 400 13,026
1868 12,544 446 420 13,410
1869 12,957 596 534 13,997
1870 12,157 737 439 13,333 121 121
1871 11,687 905 464 13,056 486 486
1872 12,200 884 529 13,613 491 491
1873 11,616 747 501 12,864 492 492
1874 12,230 886 483 13,599 557 232 791
1875 13,291 915 631 14,837 1,138 232 1,370
1876 14,172 802 621 15,595 959 472 1,431
1877 12,920 699 568 14,187 1,216 392 1,608
1878 12,345 590 509 13,444 1,455 492 1,947
1879 12,133 592 488 13,213 872 355 1,227
1880 12,926 515 506 13,947 349 203 522
1881 15,548 565 471 16,584 836 202 1,038
1882 18,135 861 271 19,267 947 304 1,251
1883 21,196 1,020 167 22,383 902 906 1,808
1884 19,147 1,150 116 20,413 1,021 513 1,534
1885 23,331 773 129 24,233 1,067 391 1,458
I confidently invoke the careful consideration of Congress to the various matters which are submitted in this imperfect report.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M.V. Montgomery, Commissioner