Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-18
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

h II known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December 1851. for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation ci
wood, and the making iherefrom 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 infrng-
ing my said patent And further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use of
said Porter's inyention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
paienlable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National Intelligsnosr OF the 25th 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 can lntimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter'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 at first refused as interfering with
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"
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 ii 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 ease;
UNiTEp STATES PATEsT OFFICE,
4mgua 25, 1854
q Ia ~ lafta af fhte date aSkino
'sif any patent has been granted 10 W. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them the enclztsiue right Of making gas from
s0ood" 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed to be nfned 10 his ,Sppara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezcia-
siUe right Of making gas from scosd II would,
however be unjustifable to expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant
C. Mason, Commissioners OF Patents
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, ID. Z.
The United States Patent OGcs--Io all persons to
sohona these presents shall come, grating
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
rom the Jnlcs OIL Ibis ONCE Oh all cAtTdCt iIoui
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
D. Porter for letters patent in accordance with
which application letters patent were Issued 10 the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four
ln testimony whereof, i Charles Mason, Com.
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunio affixed
H. ST. this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and ofthe Independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. 70. MASON
Conn of disclaimer of w d. Porter IN his appiiea.
tion for san improved sill for making aoood
ga" filed August s. 1854. Letters patent issued
Augusf22, 1854.
"I do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecting the products Of destructive dstillation
therefrom to high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
TIE United States Patent Office To all persons 10
rchom these presents shall come greeting:
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. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second 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 hereunio
affixed this twenty-ifth day OF August,
o. n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy.four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seyenty-ninth G. Mason.
Eazvaot from Specification Of w. ID. Porter
Scjsieh letters patent scere issued august % 1854
CLAIM.-What claim 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 and d. diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth Of the above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, to which all have
access. y
VIM r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.