Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-02
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.


WOOD GAS.--CAUTION.
DE II known that 1, the subscriber sb-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood and the making thereirom 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 intring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
as i expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Odice 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 TO be
patentabe to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclalmed, as ap-
pears upon the public records Of said ONCE, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, aud also
a copy of his claims.
In the National 4nteligemosr Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution to 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 ntimidate under
such circumstancesa MIR. Pouer's claim is based
upon a 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 a
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 securing
the exclusive right to making gas from wood. "
The statement carries absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Ottce
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 case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFPIcK,
.sSt August 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of tins date, asking
!" if any patent has been granted to W. D. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them :. The ezcLusiue right Of making gas from
soood," 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 mined to his appara-
lus; and, further this Office is not aware thar
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclu-
sive right Of making gas from f0osd II would,
however, be unjustifabe to expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am respectfully, your obedient servant,
G.. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. g. Page, Washington, ID. c.
The United States Patent OGcc-To all persons to
Dhons these presents shall come, grcttng:
This is 10 certify that 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. ID. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
n ~ oE.l Il ~E - al. <<E
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the Independence OF the United
States the seventy-nintb. O. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter in has applica.
tion for ian Improved still for making GOOD
Angnst22, 1854.
81 do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distiaton
therefrom TO a high degree of heat, substantially
rs has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the Specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent Offce-Io all persons TO
fohoDa these presents 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 ffly-four
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hcreunto
affixed tins twenty-ffth day OF August,
81 N the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Ezrae from Specifications of W. ID. Porter on
schich letters patent acre issued august %, 1854.
CLAiM-What claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
ef a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which oil have
WIN. p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.