Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-25
M
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
, ~ EnoVUn that L. the subsC riber

TIE It known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1921, lot
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas; and that IN the judgment q
Competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without hiring
ing nv 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 adJudged TO be
patentabe to the first inventor thereof and which
said W. d. Porter has formally disciaimed, as up.
pears upon the public records OF SAID once, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, ana also
q copy of his claims. 3
In the National Intelligencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "excIusive right to 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
SO understood by the Patent Office as it 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 the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right to making gas from wood I
The statement carries absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent once.
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 from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO 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 or persons, securing TO him
or them atte exclusive right of making gas from
aoood,n 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 ". y. roriels
claims are believed to be mined TO has appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the srela.-
sive right of making gas from scosd. II would,
however, be uniustifabe to expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest
/ am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
Tie United States Patent OGce-7o all persons to
qvhops these presents shall come, gretsns:
This is TO certify thatthe annexed is 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 WIN
which application letters patent were issued 20 the
said w. D. Porter on the 22d 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 to be hereunto affixed
H. ST. 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 seveniy-nintb G. MASON.
Conn of disclaimer of ". d. Porter IN his applica.
ron for "an improped sfiH for making rood
gas fLd august 5, 1854 Lesters patent issued
Awgna2 p, 1884.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ;
the products of destructive distilation
lherefrom 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 all persons to
,chom desepresents shall come grsefing
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records Of this Office of an extract from
the specification Of W. ID. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-lour.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
L. 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6ny-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth. G. MASON.
Easract from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
tchich ktters patent tcere issned August 22, 1854.
CLArM.-Whsi claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
co onsisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth of the above may be asceriained from
the records of the Patent Office, to which all have
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE. !.