Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-05-23

IL tanned letters patent In December, 1871, Tor
an apparatus for the destructive dislillation OF
wood, and the making thereirom of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention of an appar-
tns recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without nfring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully 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
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed as APP
pears upon the public records. OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy Of his claims.
In the National LiteLigsncer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO 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.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, 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 contrivance. This claim, given be-
low and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdlty on It's 'front.' and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Odice
If such claim right had been granted II would
forbid every coal-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 state of the ease;
UNITEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date asking
g if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other tlme or
to any other person persons, securing to him
or them the enciiesipe right of making gas from
aoood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that W. ID. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eIciR-
size right Of making gas from aoosd 1t would,
however, be unjustifable to expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, ID. ..
Tho United States Patent O6ice-Io all persons to
aoho1, these presents shall come, grating:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this office OF an extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application OF w.
ID. 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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, COM
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
H. s.. this 25th day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence Of the United
States the seventy ninth. q. MASON
Conn of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his apphca.
tion for an improped stiH for making mood
gas filed August 5, 1854. Letters patent ISSUED
August %, 1854.
g do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subiectng the products of destructive distillauon
therefrom TO high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent Ofce-To all persons 10
'tchoni these epresents shall come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office OF an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office to be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
u" 81 n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-nnth Y. MASON
Eazraot from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tohioa letters patent yere issued August q, 1884.
CLAm.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"Thc construction of a gas apparatus or stlll,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access. -
VIM p. MCCONNELL
By his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.