WHlTMIHE V. COBB.
91
mechanical nature of this wiping movement in place of the rotating motion, it appears from the testimony in the case that at least four gentlemen, all more or less familiar with and experienced in electrical sparking devices, have devised mechanism or devices which contain the same wiping or reciprocating motion. This fact strongly con· firms the opinion I hold that the mere change of motion, claimed as an improvement by the Barrett and Daly patent, from the rotating to the reciprocating movement, involved only mechanical skill, and did not require any peculiar inventive genius. As was said by Acheson, Circuit Judge, in Haslem v. Plate-Glass Co., 68 Fed. 479, the fact that "three skillful mechanics, · · · acting independently of each other, suggested the duplication of the orbicular beam, · · · is a circumstance that furnishes persuasive evidence that the change was obvious to the skilled mechanic." See, also, in this connection, Atlantic Works v. Brady, 107 U. S. 192; 2 Sup. Ct. 225. Upon the whole of the case, I conclude that the Barrett and Daly patent, No. 430,505, issued June 17, 1890, has been in effect anticipated, and is void for want of novelty. The bill will be dismissed, at complain· .an ts' costs. WHITMIRE v. COBB. (CIrcuit Court of. Appeals, Fifth Circuit. No. 659. 1. SALVAGE-WHEN ALLOWED.
May 24, 1898.)
Timber found drifting with the tide, on deep water, In a harbor, and out of control of the owners, Is the subject of salvage.
2.
SAME-AMOUNT OF RECOVERY.
Upon proof that the public custodian of lost timber, who himself was entitled to demand 75 cents per stick for timber recovered, paid regularlY to salvors 50 cents per stick for timber turned over to him, the court a\lowed a salvor 50 cents per stick as against the owner of the timber. no abuse of discretion.
Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the North· ·ern District of Florida. On July 7, 1896, a storm swept over the western part of Florida, taking In its course the mouths of Escambla River and Escambla Bay, an arm of Pensacola Bay. At Ferry Pass, on one of these mouths of the river, there were several thousand sticks of timber gathered together which were cast adrift by the storm, and carried by the wind and tide out Into the waters of Escambia Bay. Two hundred and forty-one of these sticks, scattered along the eastern shore of Escambla Bay near Garcon Point, for a distance of one and one-half miles, were collected together by the appellee, N. H. Cobb, assisted by his three children and one man. Accordlnl; to his statement, Cobb wo.rked three days In gathering two hundred pieces, and collected the balance during a period of two weeks' time. The man employed by Cobb to assist him worked one-half day. The timber was afterwards taken by Whitmire, the appellant. Thereupon the appellee filed a libel against the timber In the United States district court for the Northern district of Florida. Whitmire Interposed a claim and filed his answer. Upon the hearing upon the merits the district jUdge awarded Cobb, the appellee, the sum of $120.50, or 50 cents per stick, as salvage, and the costs. From this decree WhLtmlre appeals ro this court, error as follows: "The district judge erred (1) in rendering a decree for the libelant; (2) In rendering a decree for so much as the
92
B8 FEDER.AL REPORTER.
ot one hundred and twenty dollars in favor of the libelant and against the claimant; (3) In rendering a decree of any sum whatever In favor of the libelant against the claimant; (4) In not dismissing the libeL"
W. A. Blount and A. C. Blount, for appellant. B. C. Tunison, for appellee. Before PARDEE and McCORMICK, Circuit Judges, and PARLANG E, District Judge. PER CURIAM. The assignments of error raise two questions: Is the case made by the libel one of salvage? and whether the amount allowed by the district court is erroneous, because excessive. Timber found drifting with the tide on deep water, in the harbor and out of the control of the owners, is the subject of salvage. Bywater v. A Raft of Piles, 42 Fed. 917. See, also, Muntz v. A Raft of Timber, 15 Fed. 555; A Raft of Spars, 1 Abb. Adm. 485, Fed. Cas. No. 11,529; Fifty Thousand Feet of Timber, 2 Lowell, 64, Fed. Cas. No. 4,783. Following these decisions, we hold that the case made by the libel is one of salvage. As to the amount allowed: While we are of opinion that the salvage services in question were of a low order, and would have been adequately compensated on the basis of work and labor, yet we cannot hold that the amount allowed was so manifestly excessive as to justify its revision on appeal. The district judge acted upon proof that the public custodian of lost timber and lumber, who himself was entitled to demand and receive for each stick of timber recovered and delivered 75 cents, paid regularly to salvors of timber 50 cents per stick turned over to him. While the price paid by the pub· lie custodian was arbitrary, and not based upon services actually rendered, yet we are not prepl1red to say the district judge, in adopting it, proceeded upon a wrong principle or abused the discretion vested in him. The decree appealed from is affirmed.
THE WEBER BROS. AND THIR'l'EEN OTHER CANAl. BOATS. (District Court, Eo D. New York. June 20, 1898.) SALVAGE-ToWAGE COMPENSATION.
A tug which rendered some aid In drawing a fleet of canal boats Into a safe harbor, after they had been rescued from all serious danger by other tugs, held not entitled to a salvage award. but merely to a compensation $lQO for towage.
This was a libel in rem by Mary T. Millen against the canal boats Weber Bros., Peter A. Weber, R. T. Hedden, Lottie A. CoIlins, D. Johnson, Mrs. Mary Monks, John Monks, Willie J. Clark, Augustus Swan, John T. Dunbar, Albert Atwood, David Taj'lor, Ard McCormack, and their cargoes, to recover compensation for alleged salvage services. Peter S. Carter, for libelant. Carpenter & Mosher, for all boats except the Peter A. Weber aUI' the Weber Bros. James J. Mad,:lin, for the Peter A. 'Weber and the Weber' 13ros.