Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-20
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE 1t known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distllation oi
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 infring-
ing my said patent, And, further that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfuly 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 adudged 10 be
patentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records of said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National IitsAigsncer 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 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
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the "exclusve right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on it's front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office
If fsuch claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coai-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 ease:
UMTES STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augma 25, 1854.
Sir. In reply to your letter of tins date, asking
:. if any patent has been granted 10 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 erelusive right Of making gas from
rood" 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 eacln
sive right Of making gas from sco.d II would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect me to make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, ID. c.
The United States Patent OGce-To all persons to
s0hom these presents shall come, grefing:
This is to certify that the annexed is atrne 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. d. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof, /. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
f.. s 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. d. Porter IN has applica.
fion for an insproped stW for making acood
ga" FLED August S, 1854. Letters patent issued
AugAst %, 1854. tas4
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products OF destructive distillaton
therefrom 10 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 O6ce-To all persons 10
sohOUs these presents shaH 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. Porer's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August eighteen
hundred and ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August
- n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Ea1raof from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
which letters patent tcere ISSUED August %, 1854.
CLAM.-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 @, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe
chcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertsined from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL
ral BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.