Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-19
IGisftIIanf0ns.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.


TIE II known that i, the subscriber OBJ
ID tained letters patent in December, 1921, ior
an apparatus for the destructive distiaiion OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch AZ
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment o'
competent persons the inyenton p o. an ap nppds e
used by him or any other person without. hiring
ing nv said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs 10 me,
as expect TO prove ere long before the unted
States Patent Office and, further that tne use ol
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and which has been adJudged 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof, ana whch
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclalmed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said ONCE, oi
which an official copy is hereto annexed, aho Also
a copy of his claims ~,
In the National IpteHtgencer OF the 10Th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured oy
patent the Exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 al 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 pased
upon movable perforated diaphragm and was
so understood by the Patent ONCE, as appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contriyance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm Is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the "exclusve right to making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Once.
If such claim or right had been granted, 1t would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
extracts from the records of the Patent once VIII
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Angna 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter OF this date, asking
" if any patent has been granted 10 W. u. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other Time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 INN
or them a the ercl,tsiue right Of making gas from
rood - 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. 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 eIctn-
size right Of making gas from aoosd II would,
however be unjustifable TO expect me to 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, G. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent Ofce-To all persons 10
4ohoa. these presents shall come, grettnS:
This is TO certify that the annexed is airue copy
from the files of this Office Of an extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application OF w.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent issued 10 the
said W. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fflyfour.
In testimony whereof /. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
H. ST. this 23th day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and ofthe independence of the United
States the seventy y-nntb. 9. MASON.
Corn of disclaimer of W. d. Porter has aTpliea.
tion for "an improved stiH for making rood
gas fled August 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augusta, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecing the products of destructive distiation
therefrom TO a 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 O6ce-To all persons TO
tchonp these presents shall come creating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office OF an extract from
the specification Of W. d. Porer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
L. s. r. The wear of onr Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and Of the
independence Of the United States the
seveniy-ninth G. MASON
Ezzract from Specification of w. d. Porter on
tohioh letters patent acere issued august % 1854.
CLAIM.--Whai claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder Il, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6caton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth OF the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. O. PAGE. ?