Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-29
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

Il IL KNOWN that j, the SUBSCRIBER OD-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distlalon OF
wood and the making therefrom 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. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without lnirlng-
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patemisd by said Porter rightfuily belongs TO me,
MS | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Ofice; and, further that the use Of
said Porers invention involves also u process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and which has been adudged TO be
patentable 10 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 Inteligencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right 10 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr. Porter's claim is based
upon 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 TO Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent coutrvance. 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 10 making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdlty on It's 'front.', and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Ohce
If such a claim or right had been granted, 1t would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Ofhce VIII
show the state OF the ease
UNrTEp STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augna IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your lstter of this date, asking
aif 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 10 him
or them tie errlnsive ri ight of making gas from
soood" 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. u Porlef's
claims are believed TO be C mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this Office Is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ereiu-
sive right Of making gas from tcoSd II would,
however, be uniustfable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
| am respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof G.. G. Page, Washington, D. Y.
The United States Patent Otace-To all persons 10
achogs these presents shall come, grettng
This is 10 certify that the annexed is 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 Odd day of August,
eighteen hundred and fity-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 hiiy-
four, and of the independence OF the United
Statas he seyenty ninth q. MASON.
Corr OF disclaimer of w ID. Porter ia has applica.
tion for San fmproped stfH for making foood
gas, ficd August 5, 1854. Leffers PdteHs issued
August %, 1854
= do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subiecling the products of destructive distilaton
therefrom 10 a-high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described aud for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The Uaited St0aes Patent Offce-TO all psrS0Rs 10
trtogl these presents shall come greetfng;
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 hfy-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
= o. n the year of our Lord one Thousand
eight hundred and ifty.four, and OF the
Independence OF the United States the
seventv.ninth. G. MASON.
E11ract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,chiol letters pa6uf issued august %, 1854.
CLArM.-Wha claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
THE construction OF a gas apparatus still,
consisting ef metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ciGcston, and shown in The accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be sscertained from
The records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. 9. PAGE.