Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-19
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
DE It known that j, the subscriber ol

-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distation 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 any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs to me,
as | expect to 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 TO be
patentable to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy Of his claims.
In the National Iaateltgencer OF the 10Th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the aexclusive 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 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 Vecords 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 contrivancc. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, 1t 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 ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
"if any patent has been granted TO w. D. Porter
dated 22d August 1854, or al any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them I" the ezclusius right of making gas from
aoo0d," 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. 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 erci9-
right of making gas from U0sd II would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect Inc to make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest
am, respectfully your obedient servant,
C. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. MCDONALD. Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent O6fce-To all persons 10
aohona these presents shall come, gretins
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office of 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. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL. s. 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 seventh y-nlntb. c. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IA his applica.
fiou for san improred still for making acood
gas, filed august S, 1854. Letters patent issurd
Augnsf22, 1854.
g | do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive dstillation
thereirom 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 United States Patent OFce-To all persons 10
tchom these presents shall come greeting:
This is TO 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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused The
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
- D n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. q. MASON
Ez1raet from Specification Of w. ID. Porter
sohieh letters patent toere issued Augaa % 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
co insisting of metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cfcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth Of the above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. P. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.