Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-16
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE 1t known that !, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillaton OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment Of
competent persons the invention of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used BY him or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent And, further, that what Is
patsnted by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further that the use of
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be
patentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records of said Office, OF
which an official copy-is hereto annexed, and also
. copy Of his claims
In the National I,itelligenosr of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the 'sexclusive right 10 making gas from
WOOD" and threatens prosecution 70 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? 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 at 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 MIR. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its 'front.' and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Ofice
IL such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coaI-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. ,bt
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 %, 1884.
SIR In reply to your letter of this date, asking
]" if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them "Me exclusive 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. D, Porter's
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercln-
size right of making gas from aoosd 1t would,
however be uniustifiable TO expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your
quest
/ am, respectfully, your obedlent servant
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. MCDONALD. Esq,
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Paten. OGce-Io all persons to
ichou these presents shall come, grcttng:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office of extract from
paper fled in the matter Of the application Of w.
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred aad fifty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. 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 ffy-
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. @. Mason.
Copy of diselaimer of ". D. Porter IN his appliea.
ti0n Jbr ..au fmprored uIR for making rcood
gas, = filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
AngHst22, 1854.
g. do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive dstillation
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent Ofoe-T all persons to
,Ohom thesepresenfs shall come creating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. d. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
=, affixed this twenty-ffh day OF August
L o. n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
scventy-ninth. c. Mason.
EzIracs from Specification of W. ID. Po,ter on
schich letters patent tcere issned august % 1854.
CLAIM.-What | claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or stl
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
c6cation, 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 CHAS. G. PAGE.
lkDnnnas II 4 ID a a A N