Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-16
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

| DE il known that 1. the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1891, for
| an apparatus for the destructive distlation OF
wood and the making theretrom of tar or pitch al
| pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
i competent persons The invention of an appar-
tus recently patented by W. ID. Porter cannot be
/ used by him any other person without infring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully 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 adudged TO be
paentable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
| said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National I,ateLigeacer 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. | ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
| 1851, and how far the threat can lntimldae under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon 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 contrivance. 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 lis front, and
| is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Oifce
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
| forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
| IN the country.
| The following copies OF correspondence and
extracts from The records OF the Patent Once VIII
| show the true state of the ease:
UNiTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE,
AHgna IS, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter OF tins date, asking
g if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August 1854, NJ any other time, or
To any other person persons securing 10 hIm
them :" the egcinsiUe right of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made 10y
w. ID. Porter, under his application Tor patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date You are informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed to be c mined TO his appara-
ius; and, further this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore Tor the erclm-
sire right Of making gas from aco-" " would
however be uniustifable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. Mason, Commissioners OF Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The Unaed States Patent ODfee-To. all persons 10
vrhom these presents shall come grtt'mg
This is 10 certify that the annexed IL atrne copy
from the files of this office of an extract from
d. Porter for letters patent, IN accordance with
which application letters patent We're issued 10 the
said w. IT, Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fiiy-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
L. 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-nlntb. =. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of w ID. Porter in hrs appiiea.
non for "an improred aiH for making mood
ga" fled august s, 1854 Leters patent issued
august %, 1854.
~ do moi claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subjecting the products Of destructive dlstllaton
therefrom to a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
foTth'in the specification of w. +. Mcconnell.
The United States Patent Ofce-T0 all persons 10
1chom Heseprssents shall rome greeting;
This is 10 certify that the annexed Isatrue copy
from the records Of this office OF an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porters 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 hereuuto
affixed tins twenty fifth day OF August,
= - Il the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6ty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy O. MASON.
Ea7raet fron Specification of w. ID. Porter on
tchich letters patent tceye issued august %, 1854.
CIAtM-What | claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or stli,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder Il, the
cones + and ID, diaphram plate Q, and exit pipe
F. substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofihe above may be asceriained from
the records OF The Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
Rv his attorney CHAS. G.. PAGE.