Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-13
MistfIIaMfUns.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
n luown that I. the subsc riber

l.
nE 1t known that I, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1891, Tor
an apparatus for the destructive distilation Of
wood and The making iherefrom OF tar or piich al
pleasure, and gas and that IN the judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without lnfrlng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuly belongs TO 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 process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and which has been adIudged 10 be
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records Of said ONCE, OF
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, aud also
a copy of his claims.
In the National I,..eligeacer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the aexclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all pafues
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? MIR. Porter'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 MS
claim was al first refused interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as gwen 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 absurdity on ITS front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent once;
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coa-kn 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,
Angasst 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
to any other person or persons, securing TO hm
or them I" the e1clpsipe right Of making gas from
1ooodn 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. 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 Tor the eacia
size right of making gas from acoSd. II would
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents
w. P. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent O6ice-To all persons to
schom these presents shall come, grettng:
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 TO the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner or Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
H.. S this 25tR day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ifly-
four, and Of the independence the United
States the seventy-nintb. Q. Mason.
Copy Of disclaimer of W. ID. Porte, in has applica.
fion for san improped stiH for making tcood
gas, flsd Amgust 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
g do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
sublecting the products of destructive distilation
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 OGce-To all persons to
fclom these presents shall come greaing;
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofthis Office OF an extract from
the specification of w. D. 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
:, :, affixed this twenty-fifth day OF August,
T. 1J in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fiy-four, and Of the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. c. MASON.
Ea1raa from Specification Of w. d. Porter on
phiet letters patent issued August %, 1854
CLArM.-What / claim as my invention and de.
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
co consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office TO which all have
access,
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.