Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-29
WOOD GAs.-CAUrIoN.

IL
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom 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. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without nfring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuly 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 to be
palentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed as APP
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Lutsligsnosy of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
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 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 a
prior patent TO Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrivance. This claim as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the sexclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Offce
Ii such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coa-kn and charcoal manuiactory
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
UNIrEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Angmst rs, 1854.
S,p i,, To l.tf. of thra1 Lar. ackino
eff any patent has been granted to w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854 or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing to him
or them "tts erclasive right Of making gas from
fcood," 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 e1elu-
stve right Of making gas from a0o.d II would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect NE TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
@. Mason Commissioner of Patents.
W. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof &. G. Page, Washington, ID. Z.
TIE United States Patent OGcs-Io all persons to
tchons these presents shall come grettng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files Of this officc 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 to the
said w. ID. 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 10 be hereunto affixed
H. ST. 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 seventy-nintb. c. Mason.
Copy Of disclaimer Of W. D. Porter in II, Gppliea,
fion for I" an improved stiU for making aoood
gas nfled august 5, 1854. Letters patent issied
Aagaa22, 1854.
IL do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjectng the products of destructive distllation
theretrom to high degree Of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The Uaited States Patent O6es-To all persons to
tcfom these presents shaH come creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofths Office of an extract from
the specification of w. D. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fify-four.
In testimony whereof |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
81 the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. c. Mason.
Eazract from Specification of W. d. Porter on
sohich letters patent wers issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM-What | claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
aThe construction of a gas apparatus or still,
co insisting 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 ascertaned from
the records OF the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
by his attorney CHAS: G. PAGE.