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11 J. Pat. Off. Soc'y 358 (1929)
Colonial Monopolies and Patents

handle is hein.journals/jpatos11 and id is 382 raw text is: JOURNAL OF THE PATENT OFFICE SOCIETY. COLONIAL MONOPOLIES AND PATENTS By P. J. FEDERICO, Div. 43 There was, from the beginning of the colonization of the American colonies, some industrial life, although the colonies were mainly agricultural. Even up to the time of the Revolutionary War less than ten percent of the population was engaged in manufacturing of any kind and these manufacturers were mostly of the essentials of life. The develdpment of such industries as these colonies had was not entirely spontaneous. The colonial legislatures found it necessary to protect, and to induce the establishment of new' industries. This was done by special legislation, designed primarily not to foster new inventions, but to encourage the introduction of manu- factures and processes from other countries, to assist manufactures already established, to facilitate inspec- tion, or to control articles of manufacture. Monopolies were considered proper whenever they caused the crea- tion of a useful enterprise 'which otherwise would be neglected. These monopolies would be considered very unjust today but in colonial times the small populations, the remoteness of the colonies from other countries, the undeveloped state of the country and the limited markets justified the practice.. In addition to the grant of monopolies other means were used to encourage new industries, among the nmost prominent being the granting of bounties, premiums and subsidies. Bounties, the most common, were given to promote abundant production. Premiums, designed -to encourage skill, were usually in the, form of money prizes donated by individuals and societies as well as by the colonial governments. Occasionally the public authori- ties gave definite financial aid to persons proposing to establish new industries. Other forms of encouragement took the shape of land grants, loans, and even permission to hold lotteries to raise money. In a few cases laws were passed to force some types of production. In con-

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