Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-26
SM MisfaIlanfaas
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

uar WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
DE 1t known that 4, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December 1851, 70 r
an apparatus for the destructive disiillation 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 receDtlY patented by w. ID. Porter cannoi be
ing my said patent And, further, that what Is
patented 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 to be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. u. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records Of said Office, of
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
In the National Isteli geAcer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the ''exclusve right 10 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.. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records Of the Patent 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 given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
| saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Ohice.
Ii such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kn and charcoal manufactory
in the country. 3ls9ua5a ef gtl HBHt ss39i
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records off Patent Office will
show the true state of the case
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
AWgNSt 23, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
t" il 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 to him
or them 8 fhe ercfasite tghtof making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. D. Porter, under his application for patent
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. d., Porter's
claims are believed 10 be c mined TO his appara
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercln-
sire rIgh Of making gas from acosd, Il would,
however, be unjustifiabe to expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
an, respectfully, your obedient servant,
aa @. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
" Care Of Prof.. G. c. 6. 81 Page, Washington, D. G.
The Uaitsd States Patent O6fee-To all persons 10
acaons these presents shall come greting
This is 10 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 fifty-four.
In testimony whereof, i. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. ST. this 25th 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-nintb. G. MASON.
Copy ofdisclaimer of w. ID. Porter in his applica.
ton for can improped still for making acood
gas filed AngHst S, 1854. Letters T'ateaf issued
August %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products Of destructive distilaton
therefrofn 70 a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes SET
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell
The Uansd States Patent Ofce--To all persons TO
i1t0m hsss pyeSe,as shall come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office Of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Poriers patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred aud ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
=, affixed this twenty-ffh day Of August,
H. 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, and Of the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Enract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tchich letters pdtent issued Angnst %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What | claim as my invention and de
sire TO secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
CO insisting of metallic OF other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n ge fae aH.
The truth Of the above may be ascertaned from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.