Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-16
Misffllantnas..'


II tanned letters patent ins December, 1921 for
an apparatus for the destructive distillaiion OF
wood and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch =,
pleasure, and gas !; and that In the Judgment o.
comoetent person 8 the invention of an appar.
tus recently patented by W.D. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person wlthout lnirihg
ing my said patent. And, further, that wnai -
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs 70 me,
States Patent Once and further that the use OF
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which, am now claiming before the United states
Patent Office, and which has been adjndged 70 Pc
patentable TO the first inventor thereoi ana "nlcn
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed as ap-
pears mon the public records of said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims. ~
In the National Iltelzigenosr of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured py
patent the .'excusive right 70 making gas rom
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parues
infringing his patent. ] ask how this statement
comports with the fart Of my patent OF December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances MIR. Porter's claim Is based
upon movable perforated Diaphragm ana was
so understood by the Patent Office, as 1t appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, 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 wood
The statement carries absurdity on It's front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Once
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coaI-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. Hfiitilf rt 4A
) The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent ohce WIN
show the true state Of the case; {0
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
eial 39itHRR s August 25, 1854.
SIR In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
off any patent has been granted 10 w. D. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them Msszcitsive right Of piaktng gas from
mood and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application Tor patent,
which letters patent We're issued bearing the
above date you are informed that w. ID. Porters
claims are believed 10 be Mined TO his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eeiat-
sius rigM Of making gas from tcosd A wouid,
however, be unjustiiable to expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest. 'hiAt aSaRs
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
:" Care mSiS Of Prof G. G i'f Page, washington, D. C.
The United STATES Patent Ofce-I6 all persons TO
achons these presehlts shall come, grettng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office Of an extract from
paper filed in the matter ofthe application OF W
ID. Porter for letters patent, IN accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said W. D. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Ol6ce TO be hereunto affixed
H. ST. this 25th day Of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thopsapd eight hundred and 6fty-
10 four, and ofthe Independence Of the United
States the seveniy-nintb. C. MASON.
Copv of disclaimer of w d. Porter in his applica.
ton for IAN improved sfiA for making trood
as,ofied August s, 1854. Letters Pats'f issnsd
1ugnA22, 1854. l.t --fe.
q do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz; ;
subiecting the products Of destructive distilaton
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 Uaited STATE, Patent o6es-To all PERSONS 70
sn tchori hsss presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four. > "a ,s t..i.pt 80
In testimony whereof !, Charles Mason, Com
< % missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 20 be bereunto
affixed this ,twenty-fhh day OF August,
u o. in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and y-four, and Of the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy-nini s ais. q. MASON.
Ez4raz from Specification Of w ID. Porer on
.ohieh letters pateHf issHed august %, 1884.
CLaM--Whst claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is: .gf..
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6capon, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings." Esins.aai gliiIfn. n.t tt
The truth of the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access. atas 8Ln. esri
.1t, WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
Rv his affornev CHAS @. PAGE.