Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-22
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.


DE II known that /, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
an apparatus for the destructive distlllation 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. ID. 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 rightfully belongs TO me,
| expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the 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 TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which Official copy is hereto annexed and also
copy Of his claims.
In the National Iateligemcey 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 TINS statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Ofice as II appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
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 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 Office
Ifsuch claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-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:
UNITEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIR In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
If any patent has been granted 10 W. u. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, orat any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them the e1ciusipe right Of making gas from
roood" 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 TO be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erelu-
stue right Of making gas from aooSd. II would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. z. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent OGce-Io all persons to
qchom these presents shall come, grating:
MS is 10 ctFtlIy tudl the dUntAcu iS u true COpY
from the files of this Office of an extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application OF w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-lour.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be 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-nintb. z. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer Of W. d. Porter IN his applica'
ton for san Improved still for making tcood
gas, Piled august S, 1854. Letters patent ISSUED
Angnst22, 1854.
/" do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjecting the products of destructive distation
thereirom 10 a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The Unised States Patent Offce-Io all persons 10
tcsopl these presents 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. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second 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 10 be hereunto
=, affixed this twenty-hflh day OF August,
= o. n 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.
Ez4raet from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
pLich letters patent issued august %, 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 a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones L and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofth above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
Rv his attorney CHAS. G.. PAGE.