Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-02
MisftIlanfnns.
WOOD GAs.-CAuTION.

r
TIE II known that I, the subscriber OBJ
f1 tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
AN apparatus for the destructive distllation OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pitcn al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment oi
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without iniring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 70 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 adJudgcd to be
patenable 10 the FIRST inventor thereof, and which
said w. d. Porter has formally discnimed, ss APP
pears upon the public records OF said ofice, OF
which Official copy is hereto annexed. and also
In the National LiteHigsncsr Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right TO making gas rom
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact Of my patent Of December,
1861, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim 10 based
upon movable perforated diaphragm. and was
90 understood by the Patent Office, Is II appears
from the records Of the Patent Once that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent cohtrivance. 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 It's front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent once
Ii such claim or right had been granted, it 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 OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
g if any patent has been granted to w. u. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them ths exclusive right Of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. u. forters
claims are believed to be c mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office Is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eacln-
sire right of making gas from scosd. II would,
however be unjusti6able TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
Care Of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, D. c.
The Uni,ed Slater Patent OGee-To all persons to
schops these presents shall come, grrttns:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
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 to the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com,
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he herebnto affixed
L. a this 18th day Of August, in the 1ear Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fhy-
four, and Of the independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. G. MASON
Corr of disclaimer of W. d. Porter in has applica.
tioa for "an improred stil for making scood
gas, fled Ahgns 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Aagast %, 1854.
al do not claim rs my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz: !:
subjeciing the products of destructive distlation
ihereirom 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 Unaed States Patent OGce-T To all persons to
fchom fhsse presents shall 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. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second 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 10 be hereunto
:. affixed this twenty.6fih day OF August,
L - in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty.four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth c. MASON
Euysa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
srliok kfers yofsnf cere issued August % 1854.
CrAm.--What claim as my invention and de
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
The construction OF a gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones r and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
y, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6caiion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.r
The truth ofthe above may be ascerthined from
the records Of the Patent Ohce, 10 which all have
access.
wM. r. MCCONNELL.
By his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.