Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-11
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WOOD GAs.--CAUTION.

"OOO OASs--SAO AAON'
DE II known that i, the subscriber ob-
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation 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 recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patestsd by said Porter rightfuly 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 before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
patentable to the FIRST inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally discaimed, 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 I.teAigsncer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right 10 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 intimidate under
such circumstancesa Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as 1t appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at FIRST refused as interfering with a
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 'sexclusiye right to making gas from wood. T"
The statement carries absurdlty on It's 'front.' and
is a libel on the good sense OF the Patent once.
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coalkin 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 Is, 1854.
SIR In reply to your letter of this date, asking
elf 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 to him
or them " "Msezclsssivs right of making gas from
scoodn 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. Porters
claims are believed TO be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore Tor the ereln-
sipe right of making gas from lcosd. 1t would,
however, be unjustifable to expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
8a G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, D. C.
The United States Patent O6fce-Io all persons to
aclo1s these presents shall come, greting
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office Of an extract from a
paper filed in the matter of the application Of w.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent wereissued to the
said W. D. Porter on the 22d day Of August
eighteen hundred and ffyfour.
In testimony whereof l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the sea
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto afixet
H. ST. this 25th day of August, in the year of ou
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and off the independence ofthe Unitet
States the seventy ninth. G. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer of W. ID. Porter IN hrs applica
tion for aan inproped aiH for making 10000
gas fled August 5, 1854. LeaerS patent 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
therefrom to a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification Of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent Office To all persons TO
fclom fhsseprssents shall come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:. affixed this twenty.ffih day of August
IL 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. @. MASON
Ezzraet from. Specification Of w. d. Porte, o.
tohieh letters patent Dere issued august %, 1854
CLAIM.--What claim my invention and de
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still
| consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, III,
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pip,
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ciication, and shown in the accompanying draw
! ings."
The truth ofthe above may be sscertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all hav'
access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.