Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-25
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
NE IL known that l. the slhsc riher

IL Y
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and 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 infring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what as
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me-
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the Of
said Porter's invention involves also q process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to 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 Office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Inaeiiigencsr Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
WOOD" aud 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 circumstances? Mr. Porters claim 10 based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, rs il appears
from the records OF the Patent Office that bis
claim al first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO Rober, Fouls, of Canada for an
equivalent contrivance. 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 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 coa-kiln and charcoal mandatory
an the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease;
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFfcE
august IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
+" n any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them the crcfltsiUe right of making gas from
toood,n and whether any such claim was made by
w. u. 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 for the erein
siUe vigh Of making gas from tcosd II would,
however, be unjusti6able TO expect me 10 make
extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
4. MASON, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care Of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The Unifed States Patent 0Goe--To all persons 10
tchoni these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
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. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fiity-four
In testimony whereof, / Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
L. S. this 18th day Of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fly
four, and Of the independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. G. Mason
Copy of disclaimer qf W. d. Porter u, has ayplica.
ton for "an improped stM for making rood
gas Ned Augna 8, 1854. Letters patent issued
dNgHa2 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products Of destructive dstillation
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 Unied States Patent OGce-T To all persons TO
'choD, hssepre shall come creating:
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
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 TO be hereunto
+, : affixed this twenty.iflh day OF August,
-" in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fhy-four, and OF the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Enract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
schieh letters patent ,cere issued Angna %, 1854.
CLAM.-What claim as my invention and de.
sire to secure by letters patent is:
:" The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Il and ID, daphram plate G., and exit pipe
f. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Of6ce, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS @. PAGE.
MADEIRA NUTS, latest growth cssh