Washington sentinel., 1855-03-07
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
I'VE &c known that i. the suhsc rit

DE IL known that j, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch at
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 without infring
ing my said patent And, further, that what is
patented by said Porter rightfnlly belongs TO 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 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 an official copy is hereto annexed and also
n copy Of his claims.
In the National Inteligsncer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. 1 ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter'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 at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be.
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is tho
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the Exclusive right 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on it's front. and
Is a libel on the good sense of the Patent ice
IL such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manuactory
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,
s- august 25, 1854.
SIR, In replV to your letter of this dafe ASKING
" if any patent has been granted TO w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854 or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "heercinsfpe yIghsof making gas from
rood" 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. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be- mined TO his appara.
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erciu-
sire righ Of making gas from acosd II would,
however, be unjusti6ablc TO expect me to make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
g. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents,
w. P. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care Of Prof C. G. Page, Washington, d. g.
The United States Patent OHce-- To dH persons 20
fchonu these presents shall come, greting.
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
HOn tut Hlcs Oi tDiS ONCE OIL an extract rom
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 ffy-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, CON-
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 ffty-
four and ofthe independence Of the United
States the seventy-nintb. 9. MASON
Copy Of disclaimer Of W. ID. Porter in his applica.
fion for "an fmprorsd still for making scood
gas,"fied Angna 8, 1854. Letters patenf tssaed
Angust22 1854.
II do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distiIlaion
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 Patent OGce-To al persons 70
,chom Mesepresenfs 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. d. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second 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 be hereunto
H. affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
I" y in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiy-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
scventy-ninth. G. Mason
E1traet from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
rchich letters patent scere issued Augast 90 1854.
CLAIM--What claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
:" The construction OF gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder Il, the
cones + and ID, daphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ci6caton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth oftbc above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.
nEAnEIRA NIrrs 1.tas. .r.a...1.