Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-10
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

DE IL known that L, the subscriber OBJ
| Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom oftar 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 lnrlng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuly belongs TO me,
as 1 expect TO 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
patentabe 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 Iateligencey OF the 25,h 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert Foulis of Canada, for an
equivalent conrrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
the 'excusive 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
If such claim 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 Office will
show the true state of the case;
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august %, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
/" If any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person persons, securing to him
or them the eaclusiUe right Of making gas from
1oood 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. d. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eIcfH-
size right Of making gas from aoo3d It would,
however be unjustifabe 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. &. Page, Washington, ID. o.
TIE United States Patent OGce-Io all persons TO
1cho1s these presents shall come, gTeftng
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.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d 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 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. s this 25th day of August, in the year of our
II 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. d. Porter IN his appiica.
non for an improved still for making GOOD
gas FLED august 5, 1854. Letters patent ISSUED
AWghSt22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subecting the products Of destructive dIstillauon
thereirom to high degree Of heat. substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth ia the specification Of w. +. Mcconnell"
TZs Unued .States Patent O6fcc-To all persons 10
tcA0m hesspresents shall come grecifis:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Oft this Office of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porer's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and hhy-lour.
In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-6fth day OF August,
81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. Z. Mason.
Ea4yaet from Specification Of w. ID. Porer on
tvJticA Lttsrs patent tcere issned August % 1854.
CLAIm.-Whal claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be asceuained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.