Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-21
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.


I'D tanned letters patent in December 1881, for
apparatus for the destructive distiIlaton OF
wood and the making therefrom OF tar pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention of appar-
tus recently patented by W. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person witnout infrng
ing my said patent. And further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to 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 10 be
patentable 10 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 I,ateHigencer of the 25h instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusve 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,
1881, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
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 Rober, Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrivance. This claim, 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 of the Patent Office
If 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 OFFICE
Apgua %, 1854.
SIR In renly IN ypur latIer of this date asking
if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them The enciatsipe right Of making gas from
aoooa" 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 believed to be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the e:cclu
sine right Of making gas from scosd Ii would,
however be unjusti6ahle 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedenl servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, ID. G.
Tie United States Patent O6ice-Io all persons to
aotom these presents shall come, grettng:
This is TO 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.
ID, Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. d. Porter the 22d 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 affixed
II. s. this 25th day of August, in the year of
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seventy-nlntb. G. MASON
Coyy of disclaimer of W. ID. Porter in has oypiica.
tion for san improred stiH for making qoood
gas, "fLed Aagma 5, 1854 LETTERS patsn ISSUED
August %, 1854.
&C i do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz;
subjectng the products of destructive distillation
therefrom 10 a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The Unuea States Paaeat OGce-To all persons 10
iOhona these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of extract from
the specification of w. d. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four
In testimony whereof J. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused The
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August
T. 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-nnth G. Mason.
Eztract from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
,ohict letters patent cere isSued AugWa %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or STILL
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b. the
cones f and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
f. substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be ascertaned from
the records OF the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
VIM p MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.