Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-25
MisfEIlaak0Ms.t
WOOD GAs.-CAuTToN.
DE 1t known that !. the subscriber Q

/ DE IL known that i, the subscriber OD-
| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1891, TO-
| an apparatus for the destructive distillation o
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch a
pleasure, and gas; and that in the Judgment o
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 D.
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me
as expect TO prove erelong before the United
States Patent Office; and further that the use OF
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be
patentabe TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclamed, 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. sl3 o5is3
In the National IstteLigsncer 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 circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
40 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 Foulis Of Canada, for an
equivalent contriyance. 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 a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coa-kn 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,
\ Augxa IS, 1854.
I Sir. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
off 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 Z" The ezclusipe rightof making gas from
lcood," 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. Portsr's
claims are believed to be Mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezclu-
sius yIght Of making gas from 1cosd 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, G3 H
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent O6fce-To all persons to
1chonp these presents shall come, greting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the MES oil t0IS ONCE Ol du cAlTdCl lTOm
paper fled 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 fffy-four. 5im li
In testimony whereof, 1, Charles Mason, Com,
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL. 81 this 25th day Of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty,
four, and ofthe independence Of the United
States the seventy-nintb. O. MASON.
nyzc5 5dm4aae KsR. Rsasg ir Ats eggslaissas: gsgsass
"I do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, Viz:
subiecting the products Of destructive dstilation
thefeirom to high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF W. Z. Mcdonnell
The United States Patent Offce-To all PERSONS to
tchopg these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records OF this Office Of an extract from
the specification of W. D. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof, T. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
r. affixed this twenty-hfth day OF August,
IL % in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and of the
independence Of the United States the
.eyenty-ninth G. MASON.
Ea1raet from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
tchich letters patent issued august %, 1854.
CLArx.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings." rgL
The truth Of the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office to which all have
WIN. P. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.