Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-17
MisrkllsMf0as.
wooD Cas.-.tAUTION.

L III Il III kuONu NnAt tib S~o@'A tpSt
| ID tanned letters patent in December, 1901, Tor
an apparatus for the destructive distiliailon 81
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or plch az
| pleasure, and gas and that IN the Judgment o.
| competent persons the invention oil an appar-
! ms recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used bv him or any other person without inring-
ing nv said patent. And, further, that what IS
pafeutsd by said Porter rightfny belongs 10 me,
as expect to prove ere long before me 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 adludged TO be
natentabe 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID, Porter has formally disclaimed as APP
pears upon the public records Of said oihce, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed ana aiso
d copy Of his claims.
In the .Nasionnl IateAigemcsr Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 al pafues
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 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 10 making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of The Patent Oihce
If such claim right had been granted, II would
forbid every coaI-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Ohce VIII
show the true state OF the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
"if any patent has been granted 10 W. u Porter
dated 22d August 1854, or al any other time, or
to any other person or persons securing to him
or them the eezdasive right OF MAKING gas from
sooodn 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. D. Forters
claims are believed 10 be mined TO his aPpnra-
tus; and, further, This Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eTeit-
sivs right Of making gas from 1oosd. itswouid,
however, be unjusti6able 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest
/ am, respectfully, your ohedent servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. P. MoCosAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, D. 2.
The United States Patent Office To all persons 10
achons these presents shall come, gTetfng
This is to certify tha, the annexed is atrue 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 with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and 6ty-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be herennto affixed
H. 81 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 seventy-ninih. g. MASON
Copy Of disclaimer Of W. d. Porter IN his appiica.
lion for "aR improved stiH for making rood
gas FILED August 5, 1884. Letters psfeHf issttfd
Angust22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, vlz
subeciing the products of destructive distlllauon
therefrom to a high degree of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification Of W. T. Mcdonnell"
The United States Potent OGee-To all PERSONS 10
.chom these presents shall come greettleg:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records fthis Office OF an extract from
the specification of w. D. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second 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 TO be hereunto
: affixed this twenty-ffih day OF August
IL 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and illy -four, and Of the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Eztraot from Specification Of W. d. Porter on
soJ.ieh kstvs patent 1cere issued august %, 1854.
CIAIM,-What claim as my invention and de
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or stil
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones and d. daphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ciication, end shown in the accompanying draw
ngs."
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 CHAS @. PAGE.