Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-28
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE It known that I, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1861, 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. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
as l expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the use Of
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclamed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy of his claims.
In the National Infelzigeneer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
COMFORTS with the fact Of my patent Of December,
1854, and how far the threat can ntimidate under
such circumstancess Mr.. Poner's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
90 understood by the Patent Once, as II appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused az interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm 10 the
the exclusive right TO making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on lis front, and
is q libel on tho good sense of the Patent Once
II such 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 PATENT OFrIcE,
August Is, 1854.
Sn. In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
If any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated a2d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them {" the snoinsips righf Of making gas from
GOOD" 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 informed that w. ID. Portsr's
claims are believed TO be mined 10 his appsra-
tus; and, further, this Office 10 not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eroir-
sivs rsgh Of making gas from Uosd. II would,
however, be unJusthable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedisnt servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. P. McCosAKLI, Esq,
Care Of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The Un9sl STATES Patent OHce-To all PERSONS TO
scAo~s fhsss p,sssnfs sha1 como, SraisS:
This IL 10 certify that the annexed 10 q true copy
from the 6les OF this Office 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 6fly4our
In testimony whereof, j. Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
II. s.. this 25th day Of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fly
four, and Of the independence Of the United
States the sevsnty-ninih. G. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter IN has sppiiea.
ton for "an smproped sfiH for making GOOD
sas,"fisd August 5, 1854. Letters patent i'sned
81 do not claim a. my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products OF destructive dstillation
therefrom 10 a high degree Of heat, substantially
has been described and for the purposes set
|,
The U,rised States Patent ORee-- To all persons 10
schom fhsse presents shall come creating:
This 10 TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office Of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Portcr's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, aHsxed this tweniy-6fth day OF August,
u in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6fy.four, and OF the
Independence OF the United States the
seventy -ninth. G. Mason.
Enraof from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
schich letters patent issued August %, 1864.
CLAIn.-What claim ~ my invention and de
| sire TO secure by letters patent To-:
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still
consisting OF . metallic or other cylinder B. the
cones e and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially an described in the foregoing spe
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
| The truth fthe above may be sscertsned from
the records Of the Patent Ofce, TO which oil hav,
| access.
| WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS @. PAGE.