Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-07
HisffIIaasOns.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.
. IL known that \. the subscrIl

DE it known that 4, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distiilation OF
wood and the making theTefrom Of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment Of
competent persons the invention of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. D. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what is
pafented by said Porter rightfnlly belongs TO mei
as I expect to 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 adludged TO be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally dsclaimed, 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 National Liteligencsr Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exciusive right 70 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact Of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert Foulis Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. 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 woodn
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
IS a libel on the good sense Of The Patent Office.
Ifsuch claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coai-kiln and charcoal mandatory
In the country.
The following copies OF correspondence and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Office will
show the true stale Of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augxst 25, 1854. h
n SIR In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
e if any patent has been granted TO w. d. Porter
dated 22d august, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them 6 sthsezciusius right Of making gas from
rood and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were ISSUED bearing the
above dale you are informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed TO be c mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercln-
however, be unjustifable to expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
p G. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents
!, Care Of Prof. q 6. 6. Page, Washington, D. Q.
The U,iasd States Pa,enf ofee- To an persons 10
ichom these presents shall come, greting
This is 10 certify that the annexedis true copy
from the files Of this Office Of an extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application Of W.
b, Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said w. ID. Porter on The 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four. r
In testimony whereof j. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IT, 81 this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
3 Lord one thousand eight hundred and fly
s four, and of the Independence Of the United
States the seventy ninth @. Mason.
Copy of.disclaimer of w. d. Porter in his appiica.
fion for "ah Improved stil for making scood
gas rflsd AngAst5 5, 1854. Letters patent issaea
August %, 1854. ~
. ]" do not claim as my invention and discovery
subjectng the products OF destructive dstiIlation
TO high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes SET |
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The Uaite9 STATES Pafsm oGee-- To an PERSONS TO |
schofn these presents shall come greefntg
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofthis Office Of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porters patent, issued |
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com.
5q- missioner Of Patents, have caused the |
seal OF the Patent Oaice 10 be hereuntp |
:, affixed this twenty-hfth day OF August, |
u 81 In the year Of our Lord one thousand |
2 Z eight hundred and ffy-four, and of the |
independence OF the United States the |
2 seventy-ninth. aN $50 G. Mason.
Ezsraa from Specification of W. ID. Porter on
schieh letters ydte,ff scers issued Aag1st % 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de
sire to secure by letters patent is F.nH
"The construction of gas apparatus or still, |
co insisting Of metallic or other cylinder B, the |
cones e and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe |
No. Hqo cd in fho
cihcaiion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings" s5eA
The truth Of the above may be ascertained from |
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
BY his attorney CIIAS. @. PAGE.