Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-22
Tl lisftIlaMt1ms.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

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WOOD CAS.-CAUTION.
DE It known that 4, the subscriber OBJ
rs tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for The destructive, distiIlaton OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas aud that in the Judgment Of
competent persons the invention of an appar-
used by him or any other person witaout infring-
ing nv said patent And, further, that what Is
,a31,,tsl nv said Porter ri9htfully belongs TO me-
ss, r 'ernscf m rrove ere long before the United
States Pn,ent Odice and. further. that the use of
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and W hich has been adjudged 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. D. Porter has formally disclaimed, ss ap-
pears upon the public records Of said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
COPY of his claims NJ t99is 96t 1sal,l
In the National IateLigsncsr Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the q exclusive right 70 making gas from
wood, and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
compotts with the fact Of my patent OF December,
1881, and how far the threat can intimidate under
sgch cjrcumstancesa Mr., Porer's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO understood by the Patent Office, as IL appears
from the records iof the Patent Oface that his
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 Once.
If such claim or right had been granted, 1t would
forbid every coal-kn and charcoal manuactory
in the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from tfe records of the Patent Office will
show the true state Of the case:
UNITED STATES patent OFFICE,
August IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
dated BOD August. 1854. or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them " MsezelMsivs right Of making gas from
,vood" and whether any such claim made by
w. ID. Porter under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above dale. YOU are informed that w. d. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara-
tns and further this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclu-
however be uniustifable to expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest. r we ts +i8
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents:
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq, gg
The United States Patent OGcc-T0 all persons 70
70 4chouv thsse presents shall come, grefing: at
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of this office Of an extract from
per fled in the matter Of the application Of w.
b. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
hcb appcstion letters patent were issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the I'D day OF August,
eighteen hundred and hiiy-iour.
In testimony whereoi, \ Snaries mason, Som,
m,ssiosSr OF rn,sn,s. nave causea .as .es -
Oh ine faient once 10 'c n1reun'o amAou e'a
IL 81 tins zotn day oil august, 10 'ns year u our
Lord one tnousano eien, nundISa "a Anu my
iour, and OF lne inaepenashce o. me onaeo
o'ales tne seventy - '
~ n p... = I;..,;...
Copy y 6sscia'ner9 ". ~ ~, r9'1er M - eI7'.ea
tson Jor an imp,ogea HM Jo' maN.Me 1oo1
4. -, 100, Io ,SssTs - - -SS-- = = n
ANgHa2, 1894. E..t.
:" do not claim as my inVchtion anu oisco'cry