Washington sentinel., 1855-03-08
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE II known that i, the subscriber OBJ.
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
apparatus Tor the destructive distlaiion OF
wood, and the making thcrefrom of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judg inent 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 infrng.
ing my said patent. And. further, thai what Is
patented by said Porter rightfuly belongs TO me,
IS | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and further. that the use of
.ad Porter's invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adiudged 10 bs
patentabe TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
Gears upon the public records oil said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims
In the National Iaielzigenesr OF the 25lh instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood 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 intimidaie under
such circumstances2 Mr.. Porer's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
% understood BY the Patent Office, as il appears
from the nr9- OF the Patent Office that his
claim was s.. 4 refused as interfering with q
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, Of Canada, lor
equivalent cou,rivance. This claim, as given be.
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right TO making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on its front. and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Orce
II such a claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
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
UNITED STATES PATEST OPFIcK,
August 25, 1884.
SIR. In reply to your letter Of this date. asking
IL any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them the erci,sSipe right Of making gas from
rood" 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 10 be Mined 10 his appara-
patent has been granted heretofore for the eaein.
sire right of making gas from fcosd. II would,
however, be unjusti6abe 10 expect me to make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
lam, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The Uaitsd .Stafes Patent OHcc-- To all persons 10
sch0m these presents shoH come, gyeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files OF this Office of an extract from a
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
D. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent we're issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day or August,
eighteen hundred and hfy-four.
In testimony whereof Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
IL. . this 25th day Of August. in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffiy-
four, and Of the independence Of the United
States the seveniy-ninib. G. MAsos,
Copy Of disoiairser Of W. D. Porter IN his aTplica.
fion for ian improped riH for making rood
gas Fled Angnsf s, 1854 Letters patent tssued
Augnst22 1854.
81 do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz;
subJectinE the products Of destructive distiatiou
thereirom TO a high degree of heat, spbs,antislly
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. p. McConnelL"
The Unised States Pafsnt O6cc--- To all psYsois 10
,rAom nsss presents shall rome greeting;
This is 10 certify that the annexed is = true copy
from the records Of this ofRre OF an extract from
the specification Of w. n. Poricrs patent, issued
in tho twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents. have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
4, =, affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
'' IN the year oil our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fhy.four, and OF the
Independence OF the United States the
seventy,nnth. G. MAsok.
Er,raot from Sptc,feation Of " d. Psrr on
tchich iensrs patert 1cerc issued Angnr 22aS3t,
ChAIm.--Whai | claim my invention and de-,
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
The construction OF gas apparatus or st
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones and D, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially "a described in the foregoing spe-
cifcstion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.P
The truth OF the above may be ascertained from
the records Of The Patent Ofice 10 which all hsvs
acceU.
WM p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.