Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-12

WOOD GAs.-cAuTrt,N.a

TIE n known that /, the subscriber OBJ
- tanned letters patent in Decembery ls5l for
an apparatus for the destructive dlshliation OF
wood and the making therefrom OF tar or piich al
pleasure and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an nppar-
tus recently patented by W. ID. Porter cannol be
used by him any other person without inHing-
ing my said patent And further, that wnat Is
patented by said Porter rightfully beiongstolne
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the DMted
States Patent Office and, further, that then Of
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United Sfates
Patent Office and which has been adJudgedto be
patentable 10 the frst inventor thereof, and whch
said ID. Porter has formally dlsclaimed, aSap-
pears upon the public records OF said ofticesgof
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and ai3P
: ind In the Nationa I,.seAigsnssr of me 25,s ns4
Mr.. Porter announces that he has securedty
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,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was AT first refused interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. This claim, as gwen be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm Is the
the "exclusive 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 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 Oihce will
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 20, 1884.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
]" if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "Me erclusire right Of making gas from
t0ood" 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. ID. Porters
claims are believed to be mined TO his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the encln-
sfve right of making gas from D0sd IL would,
however be uniustfable TO expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest
am respectfully your obedient servant,
G. MASON Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. MoCoHAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, ID. Z.
The United States Patent Office To all persons to
aohom these presents shall come, grettng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true 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. d. Porter on the 22d day OF August, |
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony Whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the seal |
of the Patent Office TO be .hereunto affixed
IL. ST. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hliy-
four, and Of the Independence OF the United
States the seventy-nintb. Z. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w ID Porter az Ms epphea.
fios, for "aR improped atH for making rood
gas Piled Augnst $, 1854. Letters patent issnsd
august 22, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery |
The improvements in making gas from wood VIZ:
subiecting the products of destructive distillaton
lherefrom TO a high degree of heat substantially |
as has been described and for the purposes set
Iorlh in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
TIE United States Patent OtRce-To all persons 10
tchom these presents shall come greatng:
This is 10 certify thai the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of an extract from
The specification of w. d. Porters patent, issued
On the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ffly-lour.
In testimony whereof |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the /
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto /
:. affixed this twenty y-ffth day OF August |
H. 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand |
eight hundred and ifty-four, and Of the |
Independence of the United States the |
seventy ninth. G. MASON.
Errraet from Specification Of W. d. Porter on |
aohieh letters patent scere issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still, |
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b. the |
cones and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe |
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe
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 CHAS. G. PAGE.