Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-27
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

Whisky--sales of Ohio 81.
Stocks are heavy. Money is easy at 4.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom oftar 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 be
ing my said patent. And further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightiuily 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 the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjndged 10 be-
patentabe 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said W.D Porter has formally -disclaimesl as-ap-
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 L1tei geaicer Of the 18th 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. 1 ask how this statement
COMFORTS with the fact of my patent Of December.
1891, and how far the threat can ntmdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porer's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO understood by The Patent Office, as il appears
from the records Of the Patent Office thai HIS
claim was at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent continuance. 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 TO making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdiiy on its 'front.' and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Once
If such cl4im or right had been granted il would
forbid every coal-kilu and charcoal mandatory
in the country
The fsilawing- copies nf CORE nandenca and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Office will
show the true state Of the case
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE,
ASgUa %, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter Of this date asking
g il any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August 1854, or at any other time. or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them " the erriasire right Of 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. ID. Porter,s
claims are believed 10 be confined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ereiu-
siue right Of making gas from ioosd. II would,
however, be unjusIhable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re,
quest.
! am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
The United States Patent Ofoe-To all persons 10
rhons these presents sliaH come, greting:
This is to certify thai the annexed is atrue 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 accordan ce with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof, |. Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
H. s. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffty-
four, and ofth independence oftbe United
States the seventy-ninih. G. Mason.
tion for ian imprOved still for making tcood
gas fled August 5, 1854. Letters patent issnfd
August %, 1854.
:" do not claim rs my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz
suhecting the products OF destructive distillation
therefrom TO a high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sc,
forth in the specification of w. p Mcconnell
TIE United STATES Patent Office To all persons TO
tehom these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofths Office of an extract from
the specification Of w. d. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ifiy-four.
In testimony whereof, j, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
=, affixed this twenty. fifth day OF August,
L." d in the year Of our Lord one thousand
| eight hundred and 6fy-four, and Of the
Independence Of the United States the
! seventy-ninth. G, Mason
| Eraroet from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
| ,chich kaes Patent tcere issued Aagust % 1854.
| CIA1M-What claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"Tbe construction Of gas apparatus or STILL
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B. the
cones and d, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
c6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.