Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-03
MisftIlaMkGMs.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
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DE It known that j, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1891, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillaton OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot De
used by him or any other person without hiring
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patea,tsd by said Porter rghtlnlly belongs 10 me,
as expect to 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 70 De
patentabe to the FIRST inventor thereof and which
said W. d. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records of said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National h,telligencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the aexclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO 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 lntlmidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim IS based
upon 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
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. This claim, as gwen be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the "excusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdny on It's front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
II such claim right had been granted, IT 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,
August 25, 1854.
IF dat aski mo
s'if any patent has been granted TO w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them the ezclnsive right Of making gas from
soood" 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. Porters
claims are believed TO be mined TO his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore Tor the eTclm-
size right Of making gas from foosd II would,
however, be unjust6able TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest
am, respectfully your obedient servant,
G. Mason Commissioner Of Patents.
W. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent OTce-Io all persons TO
schonp these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the 6es OF this once OF an ezra. rom M
paper nled IN ine lnauer oi 'ne ppaa appaon =. ,;,t
D. Porter Tor letters palenl, IN accoiuance Win IN
wnicn aPPiica,'oh ieuers Pa'e ona a., as 49,,
sa.b s;ah, bnnd,sd ana 6fiy.four.
In ,es,;mnnv whereof 1 Charles Mason, Com
m;ssioner Of Patents. have caused the seal
Of The Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
r, a this oab dav of August. in the wear of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffty-
four, and of the independence Of the United
States the seventy-uintb. c. MASON
Conn of disclaimer of w d. Porter IN his applicd.
Ion for uan improrea stM for making rood
pas.nfLed August 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854
a. do 40, claim as NV invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz :