Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-28
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

DE 1t known that I, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent Ia December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillaion 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 witnout infrng
ing my said patent And further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me-
l 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 Oilice, and which has been adjudged 10 he
patenlable 10 The first inventor thereof aud which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records Of said Office OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy OF his claims 3
In the National IateHigencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood,o and threatens prosecution to 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 intmidaie 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 records Of the Patent Office that his
claim AT first refused as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada for an
equivalent conirivance. This claim, as gwen be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the "exclusve right 10 making gas from wood,n
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 il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
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:
UMTEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Amgua 25, 1854.
In IN lett or Of askI
seif any patent has been granted to W. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing to him
or them " THE srritsips right Of making gas from
arood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for a patent,
which letters patent were ISSUED bearing the
above date, you informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined TO his appara-
ius and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezclu-
sfpe right Of making gas from ,oosd II would,
however, be unjusti6able 10 expect me 10 make
extended Investigation 10 answer your re-
quest
| am, respectfully your obedient servant,
G. Mason Commissioner of Patents
w p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United States Pateat Office To all persons TO
tohoni these presents shall come, greting:
This is To certify that the annexed is true copy
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 tha
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, | Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunlo affixed
II. 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 seventy y-nntb G. MASON.
Copy of disetainsv Of w. ID. Porter has aJgfica.
tfon far an tmproped sfiH for making aoood
gas, fled Amgmst s, 1854. Letters patent issued
AagaSt2 %, 1854. sss.
al do not claim my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecling the products of destructive dstillation
theretrom TO high degree OF heat, substantially
has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of W..P. Mcconnell"
TIE United States Patent OGce--Io all persoas 10
1chonl these preSeatS shall conie greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and hfty-tour.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hcreunto
!, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
. % n the year of our Lord one thousand
U eight hundred and ffiy.four and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. g. MASON.
Ezrract from Specification of w. ID. Porter ON
,clticA letters patent 'cere ISSUED august %, 1854
CLAIM-Whst claim as 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
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs." ,.
The truth of the above may be asccrtained from
the records of the Patent Office, to which all have
access
r#f r WIN. p. MCCONNELL
e#Iat BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.