Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-28
WOOD GAs.--CAUTION.

/ I'D tanned letters patent in Deccmber, 1851, fol
/ an apparatus for the destructive distillalon OF
| wood, and the making thercfrom Of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment oi
| competent persons the invention of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrng.
ling my said patent And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me,
States Patent Ofice and further, that the use oi
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentabe to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, APP
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 InteAigenosy of the 25th instant
MIR. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right to making gas from
wood,n and threatens prosecution to. all parties
infringing his patent. l 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.. Porer'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 al first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Foulis, Of Canada for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, 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 Office
Ii 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 true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFTIcR,
Augus 25, 1854
SIR In reply TO your letter Of this date asking
g if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time or
to any other person or persons securing to him
or them 6 the ezciusiue right Of making gas from
aoood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent We're issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims believed to be Mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is moi aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezclu-
stve right Of making gas from acosd. II would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. McCoSAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
Tie U,aasd States Patent OGce--To all persons 10
rchom these presents shall come, grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this office of an extract from a
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
H. ST. this 25th day of August in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, aud 0f the indsP--aan.A -Sshe TrniiAa
States the seventy ninth. G. MASON.
Copy of disclainaer Of w. d. Porter IN his appliea.
ton for "an improved sfW for making tcood
gas fled August S, 1854. Letters patent tssnrd
Angna22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjectng the products of destructive distillaton
therefrom 10 a high degree Of heat, substantially
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell
The Unised Stases Patent OFee-To all PERSONS to
tohons 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. Porters patent issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four. f
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Mason, bm-
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty fifth day OF August
Z 81 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.
Ezurao from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
whic letters patent .cere issued August "a, 1854.
CLAIm.--Whai | claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
consisting of a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones f and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
r, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n t#.ta
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. @. PAGE.