Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-08
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

y u ~ AhoWH tHdt Is the suusCFlDcT Ob-
ID tanned letters patent In December, 1881, lCg
apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood, and the making iherefrom 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 rghtfully belongs 10 me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and further, that the OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which arm 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 discaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which official copy Is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National IuteHigencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent l ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent OF December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimldate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Por,ers claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
80 understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was nj first refused as interfering with a
prior patentAto Robert FOULS of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm IL the
saving clause, is what Mr., Porter calls securing
the "exclusive right TO making gas from wood" /"
The statement carries absnrdIty on Its front. and
il libel on the good sense OF the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiin and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
The following copies of correspondence aud
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state OF the ease:
UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augaa 25 1854
SIR In renIv IN your leIter of this daIe as king
:" if any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them /" the crelusfUe right Of making gas from
soood" and whether any such claim 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-
tus and, further, this Office is moi aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the e2cia-
size right of making gas fiona acosd II would,
however, be unjustihabe to expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest
/ am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G.. MASON, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United States Patent Offce-To all persons 10
,ohoma these presents shall come grating
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
iToHl tue mes OF luis Olucc VI du CAih't io'n "a
paper fled in the matter of the application of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August
eighteen hundred and flly-iour.
In testimony whereof, / Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL. s. 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 seveniy-nIntb. q. MASON
Copy of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter IN his apPlca.
tion for /" an Improved still for making soood
gas, filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augusta %, 1854
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subectng the products Of destructive distillation
therefrom 10 high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes SET
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United STATES Patent OGce-Io all PERSONS 10
,chon1 these presents shall con1s greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Oft this Office of extract from
the specification Of W. ID. Porlers patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-iour.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-fflh day OF August
- N the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ifty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. O. MASON.
Eazract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter
tolich letters patent issued August %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent IS
THE construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertalned from
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.
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