Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-21
MisffIlaHk1Ms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE It known that I, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1921, Tor
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. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrIng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what ss
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me-
as i 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 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said W.D Porter has formally disclaimed as ap.
pears upon the public records Of said ofice, OF
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National I,sssUigsncsy Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right TO making gas from
wood and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fart Of my patent of December
1851 and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porer'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 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 diaphragmis 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 Odice
If such claim or right had been granted, 1t would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
in the country.
4 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,
K august 25, 1854.
SrR. In reply to your 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
aoood" 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. u. Porters
claims are believed to be g mined to his appara-
tps; and, further, this Office is not aware that q
sive rigM of nsdking gas from scosd Itwould,
however, be unjustifable to expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
c. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents.
Care Of Prof. G. 6. 81 Page, Washington, D. Q.
The United States Patent Odses- To all persons TO
lchom 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
paper fled 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. d, Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and iiftyIour.
/ In testimony whereof, 1, Charles Mason Com.
! missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 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. c. MASON
Conn of di,cza;uer of W. d. Porter II. has applica.
fion for g an improved still for making GOOD
gas fled AHgnst 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
I az do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distlation
therefrom to high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
Tzs United States Patent OGcs-T all persons to
schons thsseprssents shall come greeting:
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. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffly-four. i. -
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal oil the Patent Ofhce 10 be hereunto
-, affixed this twentyffh day OF August,
IL o. in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fiffy-four, and Of the
independence of the United States the
scventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Extract from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
Sohich Ittsrs patent scsrs issued August % 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 metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate Q, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings." sa aa 4aiff, ~
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. @. PAGE.