Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-07
MisfsIlamk1ns.
WOOD CAs.-CAUTIoN.


WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE II known. that i, the subscriber OBJ
| Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive dstillation 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 be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuly belongs. TO me,
| as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the of
said Porters 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. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records of said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, end also
a copy of his claims.
In the National I,,tezigeneer Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the s'exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 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 intmidate under
such circumstances Mr.. Porter'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 that his
claim was at 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 OHice.
If such claim or right had been granted it would
forbid every coaLkiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show tho true state of the case: .aa tat
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
I" 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 TO him
or them "thee1ciusipe right Of making gas from
fcoodn 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 for the eTclu-
sire right Of making gas from Uosd. II would,
however, be unjustifable 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. MCDONALD. Esq,
Care of Prof. c. @. Page, Washington, u. c.
The United States Patent Ofce-Io all persons TO
tchon these presents shall come, grating;
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office OF 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 were issued 10 the
said W. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fty-iour.
In testimony whereof, / Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
H. 8. this 25th day OF August in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. c. Mason.
Copy of diseLaimer Of W. d. Porter IN has appiica.
fion for san improped stiH for making rood
gas FLED Augua 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
AHgHa22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecting the products Of destructive distillation
therefrom to high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OGce-TS all persons TO
phon thsseprssents shall come grating:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records OF this Office of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porier's patent, issued
on the twenty second 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 this twenty-fflh day OF August,
IL "J in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiy-four, and Of the
Independence OF the United States the
seventy ninth. c. MAsoN.
Ezaraot from Specification of W. ID. Porter
1ctieh ettsys patent scere iSsNed August q, 1854
CI.AIx.-Whst claim as my invention and de.
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic other cylinder B, the
cones f and D. daphram plate @, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcaiion and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.