Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-28
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

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DE II known that j, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive disilaton 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 witaoui inirng
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 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 10 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 an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National hatelligencer OF the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "excusive 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 can intmidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Portcr's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada, for
equivalent contrivance. This claim, 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 libel on the good sense Of the Patent Oiiice
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 Oihce VIII
show the true state of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
AuUUH 25. 1871.
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 lime, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them Tie ezciusipe right Of making gas from
acood," and whether any such claim was made by
W. ID. 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 a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eaclu-
sive right Of making gas from aoosd Il would,
however, be unjustihable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer yonr re-
quest.
am respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioners OF Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, d. C.
The United States Patent OGoe--Io all persons TO
mhom these presents shall come, grettmg:
This is TO 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 10 the
said w. ID. Porter 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. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year of
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and Of the independence of the United
States the seventy ninth. G. Mason.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter his applica.
tion for San improped still for making aoood
gas" filed Augmst 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augna22, 1854.
I" i do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subecting the products of destructive distilauon
thereirom 10 high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w p. Mcconnell"
The Unied States Patent 06fce-To all persons to
1chom 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 TO be hereunto
!, affixed this twenty-ffh day OF August,
:" - n the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and oil the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth: G. MASON
Eaa,act from Specification Of w. d. Porter on
schich letters patent uere issued august %, 1854.
CLArM.-What claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones e and ID, daphram plate G. and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.h
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of The Patent Office, to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CIAS. G. PAGE.