Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-26
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.


DE II known that i, the subscriber OBJ
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 infrlng-
ing my said patent And, further that what as
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs 10 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 adJudged 10 be
patentable 10 The first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclamed, aSap-
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy of his claims.
In the National I,ateligeueer of the 25lh instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right 10 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,
1861 and how far the threat can intimidate under
such crcumstancesa Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon 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 al first refused as interfering with
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 "exclusve right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its 'front.' and
is a libel on the good sense OF the Patent Once
If such claim or right had heen granted, ii would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts frNm the records of the Patent Office will
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 TO W. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 hun
or them /" the ee1clasipe right Of making gas from
sOoOd," and whether any such claim was made by
W. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that W. d. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eaclu-
stue right Of making gas from posd. 1t would,
however, be unjustfable 10 expect me 10 make
extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully your obedient servant
G. MASON Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
TIE United States Patent Office To all persons TO
acko1. these presents shall come, gyetfns:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from
paper filed 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 the 22d day of August
eighteen hundred and ifly-four
In testimony whereof, | Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto 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 ofthe United
States the seventy-nlntb. u. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of W. ID. Porter IN his appica.
ton for "an improved stiH for making acood
gas FILED august s, 1854 Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subecting the products of destructive dlstiilauon
therefrom TO a high degree of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
tn. United States Patent ORce-To all persons 10
1ohoDs these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office OF an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porters patent issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
- n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy.fo and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G.. MASON
Eauraot from Specification Of w d. Porter on
1otich letters patent tcere issued AUguSt % 1854.
CLArM.-What claim my invention and de-
sire TO 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
f, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records OF the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
VIM p MCCONNELL