Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-28
S1aisffIlanE0Ms
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

DE 1t known that j, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch al
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 intring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what is
PATENTED by said Porter rightfully belongs to me,
as | expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the of
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, 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
copy of his claims.
In the National hitelligencer 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. 1 ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intmidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by thePatent 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 contrvance. This claim, given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the "excusive right 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
If such claim or right had been granted, il 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 case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
AmgHa 25, 1854.
SIR In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
+" if any patent has been granted to W. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them 'MeercltSire right Of making gas from
,cood" 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 10 be Mined TO his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclu-
sire right of making gas from wosd 1t would,
however be uniustifiable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G.. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent OGce-To all persons to
achonp these presents shall como, gretimg:
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 6fty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the PatcntDfice 10 be hereunto affixed
H. ST. this 25th day of August, in the year of orn
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and ofthe independence Of the United
States the seventy-nintb. Z. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of W. d. Porter IN his af7lica.
tion for "an improusd sill for making scood
gas filed August s. 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1851.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distillalon
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 OGce-Io all persons to
schoni tkesepres shall come greeting;
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofthis office of an extract from
the specification of W. D. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ffly-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-filh day OF August,
IL s'J in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fliy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. @. Mason.
E1rad from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
rchict letters patent tcere issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM-What | claim as my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
THE construction of gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe.
cifca,ion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth OF the above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.