Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-27
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

~ IL KNOWN that j, the buDsCrlDer Oh
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therufrom 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. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
patented by said Porter rightfuny belongs to me,
as l expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, thatthe 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. d. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
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,steHigsaoey of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that be has secured by
patent the "exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO 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.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
90 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 clam as given he
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 libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country
/, The following copies of correspondence and
extracts ffom the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcR,
tt august 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
I" if any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing to him
or them /" the e1clusive right of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
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 erclu
sive right Of making gas from scosd II would,
however, be unjusthable to expect me TO make
quest
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
4 G. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
. w. p. MCDONALD, ESQ.,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent OGee-To all persons to
fchom these presents shall come, grating
This is to certify that the annexed is a 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 issued to the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, l.. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
H. 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. 9. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of w. d. Porter IN his appica.
ron for :" an improved sfiu for making aoood
gas" "flsd august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Angna22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz !:
subectng the products Of destructive distillation
therefrom to q high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
TAS United States Patent Ofoe-To al persons to
whous these presents shdH come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office OF extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and 6fy-four.
In testimony whereof i, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, :, affixed tins twenty-6 fifth day of August
n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy-n G. Mason.
Eazrao from Specification Of w. d. Porter on
schich letters patent ,cere issued August %, 1854.
CLAM.-Whai 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 E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth Of the above may be asccrtained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.