The Driven Well Patents Declared In

Thousands of our farmers lhrou!hout the country will bless the jutticea of the supreme court when tliey learn that the so cal led "Iowa driven well cases" have been decided a;aiiist the alleged owners of the patent. In this opinión reversing the prevlous decisions of the court. Justice Watchford says, that it appears in the record of the present case for the first time that the driven well was used in Cortland, N. Y., before the patent to Green was applied for. This invalidates tlie patent and will prevent tlie further oollectloni of royulties. The agenta of tlie 6uccessora of the original owners of the patent have been very active during the past few months in collecting royitlties alleged to be due in spite of the t'aet that the life of the patent had expired. It was said by some of the attorneys representing the men who have been reslsting tlio patent owners, that withln tlie past six months thouB'inds of farmers In lowa, Indiaan, Micliijjan, New York, and otlier Btates have been forced to pay royalties to avoid a summons to apjitur before the United States courts, many miles away from their homes and that as recently as two weeks uko notices wet aerved upon owners of driven wells that they must pay the amounts demanded if they would iivold asuit forinfrinoment. This tlneat has geuerally been suffleient to torce the farmers to pay, altlionh a few have reslsted It is said that the owners of tlie patent were afraid that the lowa cases would be declded against tlu'iii. Thll accounts for their liaste to collect all tliat they could. Those who have paid will be likely tolose the amount extorted irooi thein, as it would be too expensive to try to secure a refund in each instance.