Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-01
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
II known that T. the suhsc s-iher .,h

~ -
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, aud the making lherefrom of tar or pitch ai
pleasure, and gas; and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention of an appar-
ins 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 Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed. as ap-
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 h.teiiigencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas nom
wood" and threatens prosecution 20 all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
cor,ports with the fact Of my patent of December,
1851, aud how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstancesq 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 al first refused 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 a libel on the good sense of the Patent Oitice
Ii such claim or 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 ease:
UNiTES STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854
SIR. In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
eff any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing to him
them "the erclusipe right Of making gas from
7oood,n 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-
tns; and, further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eTcfu-
sive right Of making gas from acosd II would,
however be unjustifable 10 expect me 10 make
extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. MCDONALD. Esq,
Care OF Prof. c. G. Page, Washington ID. z.
The United States Patent O6ce-Io all persons to
'chon. these presents shall come, grettng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office of an extract from
paper Hitu III tne UdltcT Oi the dpIrcbttoN Vi W.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
IL. ST. this 25th day of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hfty-
four, and of the independence Of the United
States the seveniy-nntb G. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter IN has appiica.
non for "am Improved stH for making foood
gas,n fled august s, 1854. Letters patent issued
: Augasf22 1854.
do not cfsim as my iuvc~ssva -~1 discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products Of destructive distiation
therefrom 10 high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
Ths United States Patent OGoe-7o all persons 10
tchou1 theseyreseHts shall come greeting:
This is to 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 fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be horeunto
affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
= - a the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and hhy-four and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seyenty-ninth G.. Mason.
Eaarad from Specification Of w. ID. Porter
4oltich letters paisnt tcers issued August 22, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction OF a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder Is, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
r, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, 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
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. q. PAGE.