Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-30

ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distlllation OF
wood, and The making therelrom 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 inring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfuly belongs 10 me,
as | expect 10 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 10 be
paieptable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally discaimed as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copyi hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National Liteiligsucer of the 25lh instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the 'excusiye right 10 making gas from
wood,n and threatens prosecution 10 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 lntimidaie under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records Of The Patent Office that his
claim al first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO Robert FOULS of Canada, for
equivalent contrivauce. This claim, as given be-
low, and ia which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the Exclusive right 10 making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdlty on It's front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent O'fce
If such claim right had been granted, would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
The following copies OF correspondence and
extracts from the records fthe Patent Office will
show the true state OF the case
UNITED STATES PArEnT OFFICE,
dngust 25, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter Of lhls date asking
g if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 ann
or them Me ezclusfUe right Of making gas from
,coodn and whether any such claim 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. Porters
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
tus and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore tor the eccfa-
aue right IF m,akt1lg gas fi0nl aoosd Ii would,
however, be unjustihable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation to answer yonr re-
quest
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner ofPatents.
w. P. MCDONALD. Esq,
Care Of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, ID. g.
The Unaed States Patsat OGiee--To alt PERSONS 10
whom Mese presents shall came, gratng
This is 10 certify that the annexed IS a true copy
from the files of this Office of an extract from a
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 on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fiy-four
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
f.. s. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thy
four, and of the independence Of The United
States the seventy-nlnth. G. MASON
Com Of disclaimer of w d. Poytor ~ his ayplica.
lion for an improred st,H for making wood
gas nfie9 AHgHa . 1854. Lette,S patent issued
AUgna22 1884.
IL do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subiectng the products Of destructive distillation
therefrom TO a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of W. 2 Mcconnell"
The Unned States Patent OGce-Io all yersonS %
rohoDa tLsssprssents shall come creating:
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. Porer's 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-6 fifth day OF August,
= - n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffly-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. q. MASON.
Eaaract from Specification of W. y. Porter on
schich letters patent acere issued dugUa 22, 1854.
CIAIM.-What claim my invention and de:
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
THE construction Of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones + and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
f. substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, 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,
Py his attorney CHAS. q. PAGE