Washington sentinel., 1855-03-11
WOOD GAs.-CAUTToN.


DE II known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom oftar or pitch 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 witnout infring
ing my said patent. And, further, that what rs
patented by said Porter rightfuly belongs 10 me,
as expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and further, that the use of
said Porters invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be
patentable TO the first thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National InteHigencer OF the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understoyJ by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at ii. 81 refused as interfering with a
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent conrrivancc. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated.diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coai-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 ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Angua IS, 1854.
SIR In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
|" il any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them I" The eroiusive right Of making gas from
tcoodn 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. Porfer's
claims are lclieved TO be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erein-
sire right Of making gas from wosd II would,
however, be unjusti6able TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p MCDONALD, Esg.,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, ID. c.
The United STATES Patent OEce-Io all persons 10
schom these pressnss shall come, grefinE:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files OF this Office of 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 were issued 10 the
said w. b. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal :
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
l.. ST. 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-nntb @. MASON
~ Iry n ID
ton for San Improved a,H for making ,co0d
gas nfled Angnst 5, 1854. Letters patent fssued
Angua22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subleciing the products Of destructive distation
thereirom 10 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 Paiem O6Ecs--To an persons 10
,chom thsssprssenfs shall greettng:
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. Porer's patent issued
in 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 10 be hereunto
:, :, affixed this twenty. y.fifih day OF August,
lh' - in 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.
Eurad from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
,chioh letters patent ,cere issued Augna %, 1884,
CLAfM.--What claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or STILL
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B. the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exi, pipe
f, substantially described in the foregoing spe.
cfcation, and shown in the accompanying draw.
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascer,nined from
the records Of the Patent Office 10 which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE