Washington sentinel., 1855-01-11
M isreIlanegns.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

II e 1t known that i, the suDscripcT oD-
ID tanned letters patent in December 1891, for
an apparatus for The destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making thereirom OF tar or plich al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention oil an appar-
tus recently patented by W. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without lniring-
ing nv said patent And further, that what as
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me,
as | expect to 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 adJndged 10 De
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclalmed as APP
pears upon the public records OF said ofice, oi
which all official copy is hereto annexed, aud also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Ia,teAigencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he mas secured py
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 intlmdate uhdeT
such circumstances Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon 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 al first refused as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm IS the
the sexclusve right to making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdty on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent once
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufaciory
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,
August %, 1854.
Sir. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
off any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or AT any other time, or
TO any other person persons, securing to him
or them I" "He eaciusips right Of making gas from
1cood,n and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application Tor patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, YOU are informed that w. d. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be mined to his appara-
lus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the e1cln-
sire right Of making gas from icosd II would
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, ID. G..
Tie Unied States Patent Obfee-I0 all Persons 10
arhoDl these presents shall come, gTettRg ::
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from a
paper filed in the matter of the application OF W
ID. 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 ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. S. this 25th day of August, in the year OF our
~. Lord one thousand eight hundred and hhy.
l<~ft h., nd nd aft he Init ted
States the seventy-nnth q. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of W. d. Porter IN his appl,ca.
tion for san improred sU for making rood
gas pied AugRf 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
august -, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjectins the products of destructive dstillation
therefrom 10 a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OEce-To all persons to
,chonl thfSc presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteei
hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hercunto
:, affixed this twenty.fflh day of August,
u" % in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and of the
independence of the United States the
seveniy-ninth. G. MASON
Ez,aa from Specification Of W. d. Porter on
tchieh letters patent 'cere issued august y, 1854.
CLArM-What | claim as 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
n n - -
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
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 CIIAS. @. PAGE.