Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-12
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

/ II
| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive distiation 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 infring-
ing pay said patent. And further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
as / expect 10 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
patenable 10 the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclamed, 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 IafeiIgsnoer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he mas 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,
1881, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at FIRST refused interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent conirivance. This claim, as given be-
low and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securin&
the exclusive right TO making gas rom wood
The statement carries absurdity on Its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim or right bad been granted II would
forbid every coa-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 case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augua 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter of tins date asking
: has been ora nj ted 10 w Porter.
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them {" the erclpsiue right Of making gas Jrom
7ooodn and whether any SUCH claim was made by
W. ID. Porter, under his application tor patent
which letters patent were issued bearing Inc
above date, you are informed that W. ID. Porters
claims are believed TO be mined 10 ms appara-
lus; and, further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the egcin
stve right of making gas from acoSd II would,
however be uniustifable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am respectfully your obedient servant,
G. Mason Commissioners of Patents
w. p. MCCoNAELI, Esq.
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent OEce--To all persons to
rchom these presents shall come, gyettng;
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a,rue copy
from the files of this office Of extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application of W.
u, 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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL. 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-nlntb Z. MASON.
Coyy of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter IN has arpitca
ton for an fmproped still for making acood
gas tiled august S, 1854. Letters patent tssned
August2 %, 1884.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz
subiecing the products of destructive distillauon
thererom 10 high degree of heat, substantially
a. has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. z. Mcdonnell"
TIE Unitca States Patent OGoe-Io all persons to
tohona these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the xed 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 ffly-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty. fifth day OF August,
Z 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seyenty-ninth G. Mason.
Eaa raet from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
sohieh LsaerS pate,n qcers issued august y, 1884.
CLA1M-What claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting of a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, daphram plate z, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertaned from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access. -
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CEIAS. G. PAGE.