Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-17
MisrfIlaneGms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

TIE it known that i, the subscriber OBJ
| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1921, LOT
an apparatus for the destructive distillation 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 infrlng-
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully 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 70 De
patentable TO the FIRST inventor thereof and which
said w. D. Porter has formally discaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records of said oftice, OF
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
| a copy of his claims.
In the National Iateuigencer Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusve right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. ask how TINS 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 ii appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with
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 Oice
If such claim or right had been granted, would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent once VIII
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter OF this date, asking
"if any patent has been granted to W. u Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or al any other time, or
to any other person persons, securing to him
or them the erclslsive right Of Making gas from
sooodn and whether any such claim was made by
w. D. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued W oear1pg p are
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 ercln-
siue right Of making gas from toosd II 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, ID. G.
The United States Patent OGce-To all persons to
.cllons these presents shall come, grating:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office OF an extract from
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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com,
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
L. ST. this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fify-
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nintb. Z. MASON.
Com of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his appea.
tom for an improved stR for making toood
gas FLED August S, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
al do not claim as nv invention and discovery
| the improvements in making gas from wood. viz
subjecting the products Of destructive dstillaton
therefrom 10 a high degree Of heat, substantially
| as has been described and for the purposes SET
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcdonnell"
| The United States Patent 0Gee--To all persons to
tvhonl these presents shall come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
! from the records this Office OF an extract from
| the specification Of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
| on the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and fhy-four.
| In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
| missioner of Patents, have caused the
| seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffh day OF August,
| IL ST. in the year of our Lord one thousand
| eight hundred and f6y-four, and Of the
| Independence Of the United States the
| seventy-ninth. Z. MASON.
| Extract from. Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tchieh letters patesn issued august y, 1854.
| CLAIM.-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 Il, the
cones and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ciication, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
VIM. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.