Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-12
9lisffIiant0ns.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
AZ knovyn that L. the subscribe


nE Il known that 4, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas I; and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently palenicd by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person witnout infrng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
yatsnssA by said Porter rightfuly belongs 10 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
pateniabe to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w d. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears npon the public records of said office, OF
which Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy ofhis claims.
the National INTEL ligeneer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right TO making gas from
wood and threatens prosecution 10 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.. Porler's claim is based
upon n movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, OF Canada, for an
equivalent contrvancc. This claim, as given be-
low, aud 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 libel on the good sense OF the Patent Y hce.
If such claim or right hid been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln aDd charcoal manuiactory
in the country. q s
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office viii
show the true state of the case E
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
a g&R Aggna 25, 1851
SIR. In reply TO your letter OF this date, asking
&C 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 the erclusiw right Of making gastrom
,oood" 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 informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be c mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eacln
sire righi of making gas from acoed II would
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest
~ am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care Of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
TIE United States Patent OGes-To all persons to
~ achops these presents shall come, grating:
This rs 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 10 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
IL ST. this 25th day Of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fity..
four, and of the independence ofthe United
States the seveniy-nintb. G. MASON
Conn of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter ia has a1,plca.
tio,l for "an Improved stiH for making acOod
gas fled ANgHa 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
AHgnst22, 1854 Ei
|" | do. not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood VIE
subjeciing the products Of destructive distIlation
thereirom TO a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w P. Mcconnell"
TAe Unite8 States Patsaf OGce-T0 all persons TO
f arjiopa these presents shall come greeting:
This is 90 certify that the annexed is n true copy
from the records Of this office of an extract from
the specification Of W. ID. Porter's patent issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and 6fiy-four.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
+. :, affixed this tweniy.6hh day OF August,
IL 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiy-fouF and of the
Independence of the United States the
seyenty-ninth. G. MAsoS.
Eraraot Gom Specification Of w. d. Porter on
,chieh ktters patenf scere isSEed ANgna %, 1854.
CrAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent Is:
q The construction Of gas apparatus or STILL
consisting of a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcaiion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe shove may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Qfice, to which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CIIAS. G. PAGE.