Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-02
Mistellamf0ms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.


DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, lS5l for
an apparatus for the destructive distillatlon 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. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what rs
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 40 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 adiudged TO be
patentabe 10 the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclalmed 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 InteHigencer Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
paienrthe Exclusive right TO 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.. 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 interfering with a
prior patent to Robert Fouls, 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 absurdy on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
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 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
" if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them " tie eaclasiue right of making gas from
fcood,n and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are-informed that W. u. Porters
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 ereln-
size gilt of making gas from icosd. IL would,
however, be unustfable TO 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,
Care of Prot. C. G. Page, Washington, D. c.
TIE United States Patent OGce-To all persons to
ach0nl these preseIltS shall come, grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office of 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 fifty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
H. 81 this 25th day Of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
I1T, al. fnIa dam .ff q h.a ITnifa1
States the seventy ninth. G. Mason.
Com of disclaimer of W. ID. Porter IN has aypliea.
tioR for an improred still for making rood
gas, FLED Angast 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August % 1851.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subiecing the products OF destructive dstillation
thereirom TO a 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 Offce-To all persons 10
tchom tesepresen shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office Of extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Pouer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day OF August eighteen
hundred and fliy-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunio
r, affixed this twentyhhh day OF August,
u 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fify-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Ezlraa from Specification Of w. d. Porter on
tehieh ktters patent treye issued august % 1854.
CLAiM.-What l claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B. the
cones and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described IN the foregoing sPe.
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertaned from
the records Of the Patent Office TO which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CIIAS. @. PAGE.