Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-19
MisftLlanfgus.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
e IL known that I, the subscriber o

I'D E IL known tnat !, the supscripct oI'''
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881 fo
an apparatus Tor the destructive distilation o
wood and the making therefrom oitar or pitch a.
pleasure and ga~ and that in the judgment Q
competent persons the invention of an appar
tus recently patented by w. u. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without inirnG
ing my said patent. And. further, that what d
yasented by said Porter rghtfulIy belongs 10 me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and further, that the use OF
said Porter's invention involves also n process
which ! am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adudged 70 be
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof. and which
said w. d. Porter has formally discaimed. as APP
pears upon the public records OF said oihcc, OF
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy Of his claims.
In the National Irteligsncer Of the 10th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right to making gas from
wood, and threatens prosecution 70 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 ntimidate 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 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 diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls, securing
the Exclusive right to making gas from wood" !"
The statement carries absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent nee,
If such a claim or right had been granted, IL wond
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manniactory
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 ID. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 Inn
or them " The erciusige right Of maxim g gas from
,cood" 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. ID. Porters
claims are believed TO be c mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercin-
size right Of making gas from qcosa II would,
however. be unjusifable TO expect me 10 make
an 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.
Tile United States Patent Obsce-Io al persoAS 10
achom, these presents shall come, gratng:
This is 10 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 ".
ID. 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 Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
H. 81 this 25th day OF August. in the year Of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and Gfiy-
four, and of the independence ofthe United
States the seventy ninth. G. Mason
Copy Of disclaimer of w. d. Porter "a his applica.
tion for "an impr0rcd stiH for making aoood
gas fLed august 8, 1854. Lstters patent issued
AMgnst22 1854.
g do not claim my invention and discovery
he improvements in making gas from wood, viz
the products of destructive distiation
.heTefrom to a high degree OF heat, substantially
is has been described and for the purposes sci
orth in the specification OF w. Il. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent Offcc- To all persons 10
fchom hsssprssenis shall conn greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
rom the records Of this Office of an extract from
he specification OF w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
IN the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents. have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be herruntc
:. affixed this twenty fifth day OF August.
IL y in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fhy.fopr aud OF the
independence of the United States ih,
sevenly-ninth. G. Mason.
Euraef from Specification Of ". ID. Porter on
,chieL ieasrs pateni 'cerc ISSUED ARgnsf ~, 1854
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
The construction OF gas apparatus or still.
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b. the
rones and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth fthe above may be asceriained from
The records Of The Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.