Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-26
WOOD GAs--CAUTION.

DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, ior
an apparatus for the destructive distation oil
wood, and the making therefrom of tar 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 he
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further that what as
patented by said Porter rightfnly belongs 10 me,
as l expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
patentabe 10 the first inventor thereof. and which
said w. d. Porter has formally discaimed, APP
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National Iatellige,,cer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the eek xclusive 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. Porters 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 a
prior patent TO Robert Foulis of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrivance. This claim, given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving Clause, Is WnaL MF. 1OrtcF calls securing
the exclusive right to making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdity on its front and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, il 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 trne 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, 1884, or al any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them /" the exclusive right Of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
W. d. Porter, under his application for a patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. d. PorteTs
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 ezela-
stUe rigM of making gas from aco"d IL would
however, be njustlfable TO expect me 10 make
extended investigation to 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, d. G.
The United States Patent OGice--To all persons to
acAom these presents shall come greting:
HIS is 10 certify that tue dUucAcu is difuC Iopf
from the files of this Office of an 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 10 the
said W. ID. Porter the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and 6fty-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
H. 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-nlntb. 9. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of w. d. Porter ia has appiica.
tion for /" an improved stH for making aoood
gas" FLED August 5, 1854. Letters patent ISSUED
Angast22 1854.
:" do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjectng the products Of destructive distillation
thereirom TO a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification Of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OFce-7o all persons to
tchon these presents shall come grating:
This . 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
in the twenty second day of August eighteen
hundred and 6fy-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office to be hereunto
affixed this twenty6fth day OF August
% n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty.four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MAsoN.
Ez4ract from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
tolich letters patent issued Augua %, 1854.
CLAIM.---What claim 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 and D. daphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
Nv his aftornev CHAS G. PAGE