Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-17
NIisftIlantaas.
= WOOD CAs.-CAUTTON.

TIE It known that i, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in Deccm6er, 1921, ior
an apparatus for the destructive distillaiion OF
wood and the making thereirom q 'ar q p.ca :,
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by W.D. Porter cannot De
used by him or any other person without iniring-
ing my said patent. And, further, tnat what what -
patented by said Porter rightfuly belongs 70 me, q
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 Ofice, and which has been adJndged 70: oe
patentable 10 the first inventor lhereoi ana whicn
said W,D Porter has formally olsca%eu aia nsss Ap
which nm official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy Of his claims. tt
IA ths Natio,sai Iatsligsncsr Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured py
patent the exclusive right 70 making gas from
woodn and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent OF December,
$751; 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 il appears
from the records Of the Pment Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as gwen Pc
low and in which the perforated diaphragm y the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the "exclusive right to making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdity on its 'front.' and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent once.
If such a claim or right had been granted II would
forbid every coaI-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. ~ a,
The following copies OF correspondence ana
extracts from the records OF the Patent Omce WIZ
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
sa AGgnst rs, 1854.
SIN. In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
" if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them afhe ezcinsive right Of making gas from
scood,n and whether any such claim was made by
W. D. Porter under his application for patent,
which letters patent were Issued bearing tne
above date you are informed that W. y. Porters
claims are believed to be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezclx-
sine right of snaking gas from soosd. II would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me to make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
C. MASON, Commissioner of Patents
Care Of Prof. @. G. Page, Washington, D. c.
The United States Patent OGee--To all PERSONS to
srho~s these presents shall come, greting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office Of an extract from
paper fled 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. d. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four. H.
In testimony whereof, T. Charles Mason Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL 81 this 25th day Of August, in the year of our
R Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6fiy-
four, and Of the independence of the United
States the seventy y-ninib- g. MASON
Conn of disclaimer of W. ID. Porter IN his applica.
ton for an ig1prored sfiH for making syood
gas fzed august s, 1854. Leffsrs patent issued
Angua p, 1854.
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products OF destructive distauon
therefrom to high degree OF heat, substa ntaiiy
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United STATES Pafenf Ofee-To all persons 10
schon Htesepr shall come greeting -
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records OF this Office Of an extract from
the specification OF w. ID. Porer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and 6hy-four.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
= !, affixed this twenty-ffh day Of August,
IL 81 10 the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fhy-four, and Of the
Independence Of the United States the
scventy-ninth. G. MASON
Ezzyaef from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
sehich Letters pafehf score issued August %, 1884,
CIAm.--What 1 claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent Is:
"Tbe construction Of gas apparatus or still,
co onsisiing Of metallic or ether cylinder B, the
cones and ID, disphram plate O, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.S g.ts
The truth ofthe above may be sscertained from
The records Of The Patent Office, 10 which all have
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney cHAs. O. PAGE. 4