Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-29
MisffllamEGus.
WOOD GAS.--CAUTION.
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DE Il known that /, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
AN apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood and the making ,herefrom Of tar or pitch az
pleasure, and gas ; and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the inyeation of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. D. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrlng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what as
patented by said Porter rghifully belongs TO me.
as / expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and further that the use Of
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before The United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
paentable TO the FIRST inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records of said Office, of
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In The Na.io,al Intelligeneey OF the 25lh Insian,
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact Of my patent OF December,
1851 and how far the threat can intmidate under
such circumstances? MIR. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent conrrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdiiy on its front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent y hce
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
in the country.
The following. copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR I. In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
+" if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them " "hesac{nsive right Of making from
,cood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date you are informed that W. ID. Porters
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezein
sire right of making gas from wosd. II would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof c. @. Page, Washington, d. c
TIE u,iited States Patent O0ee-To all persons 10
iohom these presents shall come, grating:
from rhe files Of This office of an extract from
naner fled In The matter Of The application Of w
ID Porer for l-,,ers paten,. in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent ofice TO he hereunto anixed
L. 81 this 2dh day OF August IN the year OF our
Lord one Thousand eighi hundred and my,
iour, and OF the indePendence o. me United
States the seventy-ninib. =. MASON.
Copy o. atsefafmr V w. " f.ofieT ga hts 0fPffcG'
to" J~ an mProsfe go" Jo' maN"g pooe
gas, @ flea hnga" ., Iooi' L*He's P1ie"f issued
h@gNa So ,oo''
do not claim as my Invention aud discovery
The improvements % making gas from wood, VIZ;