Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-18
INSTALLATIONS.
4. WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

WOOn SASs-SAOAlON' ..tsI.r
DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
ID taiued letters palent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus. for the destructive distillatlon OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment Oh
competent persons The invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. u. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without luiring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO 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 beforethe United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentabIe 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 Il hereto annexed and also
In the National Lfez7r gsncer Of the 25lh 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.. Porter's 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 al first refused as interfering with a
prior patent TO 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 to making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Oiice
If such claim or right had been granted, It would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manuiactory
in the country. f
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case; a
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
AugHa 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 MN
or them "ns errlnsire right Of making gas from
poodr and whether any such claim was made by
w. D. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent We're issued bearing the
above date you are informed that w. d. Porters
claims are believed to be c mined to his aPpara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercin-
sire right of making gas from wOsd II would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 70 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your ohedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq, ylf
Care Of Prof. c. G.. Page, Washington, D. G.
The U,,ifsd States Patent OGee--7o al persons TO
,cjsom these presents shall come, grcti'ag i4f
This is to certify that the annexed is a 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 filty-sour.
In testimony whereof, I. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL. S this 2Jth day Of August. in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and filly-
four and ofthe independence OF the United
States the seventy-nintb. q. MASON.
Conn of 1isclainfr of W. ID. Porter IN his a1plica.
ton for aam impro,yd stu for making rood
gas FLED august s, 1854. Letters patent issued
Angast22, 1854. it. .5.it
81 do not claim as my invention aud discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subiecting the products OF destructive dstillation
therefrom to a high degree Of heat, bstan,ially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. r. Mcconnell q
The United States Patent OGce-To all persons 10
trJ,op these presents shall oons yYeeting:
This is 10 certify that the exed is true copy
from the records OF this Office of an extract from
the specification OF w. ID. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day OF August eighteen
hundred and fifiy-four.
In testimony whereof, l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
lis IN ,be wear of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty four, and Of the
independence of the United States the
seven,y-nnth. c. Mason.
Ez,yact from Specification cf w. ID. Porter on
tchieh Ltters pafenf pfre issWcd Augua %, 1854.
C,AiM-Whnt I claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
.The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones f and d, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F, substantially rs 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.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
U,, b;s a,tornev CHAS O. PAGE