Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-12
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.


DE 1t known that I, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851. for
an apparatus for the destructive disidlaton OF
wood, and the making lhereiron OF lar or pitch al
pleasure and gas; aud that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without nfring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what ~
patysed by said Porter righlfply belongs 70 me,
as l expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Ofce; and, further, that the use of
said lPorler's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before The United States
Patent Office and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable TO the irst inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copyi is hereto annexed, and also
n copy of, his claims.
n In the National Iaseiiigsgoey OF the 10Th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right to making gas from
wood,n 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 crcumstancesa Mr. Por.er's CLAIM is based
upon a 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 a
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent eontrivauce This claim, as given be-
low. and In W hich the perforated diaphragm is the
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 Ofice
IF such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-xin and charcoal manufactory
IN the country. II .t y
The following copies OF correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show he true state OF the ease f.n.
, UNITED STATES PArgsr OFFICE,
- august %, 1854.
Sir. In reply TO your letter OF this date, asking
4. il any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August 1854 or al any other time, or
TO any other person persons, securing to him
or them {" thssrrinsfpe right Of making gas from
soood,n and whether any such clam 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. d. 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 eacln-
sipe right Of making gas from fco1d II would,
however be unjusifable 10 expect me TO make
an. extended Investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am respectfully, your obedient servant,
q gratof CT MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. q. @. Page, Washington, D. Z.
Tie United States Patent OHce-To all persons 10
,ohom these presents shall come, gretfng: gao
This is 10 certify thatt the annexed is atrue 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 were issnedt TO the
said w ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
IL 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-nintb. Y. MASON.
Cam of disclaimer of w d. Porter in his applica.
fion for an improved sfiH for making rood
gas fled Anghst 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Aatgnst2 %, 1854.
n al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz ;
subjecting the products of destructive distllaton
therefrom to high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described aud for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The U,uited States Patent OGoe--To all persons 10
tchom these presents shall come greTtng:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofths Office of an extract from
the specification Of w. d. Porter's patent issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fifiy-four.
In testimony whereof ], Charles Mason Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
.3 affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
% % n the year of our Lord one thousand
r eight hundred and ifty-four, and OF the
-M Independence of the United States the
seyenty-ninth. o. MASON.
Eraraet from Specification Of w. d.. Porter
sctich letters patent icere issued AwgHt %, 1854
CIAIM-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 ID, dapbram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ciication, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n aierI m FH
The truth of the above may be ascertained from
access. gf
sTEI .. WIN. r. MCCONNELL
by his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.