Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-16
MisfeIlamt0ns.
WOOD GAs.-CAUrIoN.

DE It known that i, the SUBSCRIBER OD-
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1891, 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 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 intring
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs to me,
as l expect to prove ere long 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
patentable to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally diselalmed, 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 H,teuigencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the sexclusive 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.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the "excusive 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 1t would
forbid every coal-kiln 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 25, 1854.
SIp Tn renlv 70 vour LETTER of this date asking
"if any patent has been granted TO W. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "Me erclustve right Of making gas from
1oood" 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. D. Porter'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 eaeli.
size right of making gas from scosd. 1t would,
however be unjustifable to expect me to 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 Prof c. G. Page, Washington, d. C.
The United States Patent Ofce-Io all persons to
rchons these presents shall come, grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
d. 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 ifty-four.
In testimony whereof, L, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office to be hereunto affixed
H. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and Oft independence Of the United
States the seventy-nintb. Z. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his appliea.
tios for "an improved stiH for making rcood
5 gas FLED august 5, 1854. Letters patet ISSUED
August %, 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 Odfee-I0 oil persons to
1choDl thsse presents shall come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
= affixed this twenty yffth 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
seyenty-ninth. G. MASON.
Enzraot from, Specification of W. d. Porter on
,otieh letters patent soere issued Augut %, 1884.
CLAIM.--What claim as 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, the
cones and d, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
f, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth the above may be ascertaned from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. 6. PAGE.