Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-12
MistkIIxMkGns
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE It known that i, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive dlstillation OF
wood and the making therefrom of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas; and that in the judgment OF
competent persons S 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 rs
pGte,lted by said Porter rightfu!y belongs 70 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 a process
which an. now claiming before the United States
Patent Ofi0, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentabe TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said W.D Porter has formally disclaimed, 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 L,ssuigsncey of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the acxcIusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 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 as 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
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 Office.
If such claim or right had been granted, it 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 rs, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
g 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 the erciasive right of making gas from
scood" 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 a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eacln-
size right Of making gas from wosd. II would,
however, be unjustifabe TO expect me to make
extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
C. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent OGce-Io all persons to
achons these presents shall come, greting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true 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 10 the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof, i, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office to be hereunto affixed
II. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four and of the independence Of the United
States the seventy-nintb. G. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter in his appliea.
.Iioal for "an Improved stM for making rood
as,nfled Angnst 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
e / do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products Of destructive distation
therefrom 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 OTce-7o all persons 10
1chonl 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. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office to be hereunto
ILsl in the wear of onr Lord One Thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and of the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Extract from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
phieh letters patent acre issued August q, 1854.
CLAIN.--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 G, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings" aa4
The truth Of the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
Bv his attorney CHAS @, PAGE