Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-07-08
MOOD GAs.-CAUTTON.

DE Ii known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch a,
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 or any other person without infring-
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 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 dsclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National IatelHgenoer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right to making gas from
wood,n and threatens prosecution to all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
COMFORTS with the fact OF my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intmdate 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 was at first refused interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. 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 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on It's front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such a claim 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 ease:
UNITEs STATES PATENT OFFicE,
Angnsf IS, 1854.
SIR. In repy.to your letter of tins date, asking
" if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854 at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "He e1oiatsiue 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. 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 ercit-
siUe right Of making gas from fcosd II would
however, be unjustifabe 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United States Patent O6fce-To all persons 10
schona these presents shall come, grating
This is TO certify that the annexed is a 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 TO the
said w. ID. Porter on 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 hereunto affixed
H. 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-nlntb. G. Mason,
Copy Of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter IN his aRpiica.
tom for I" an improved stU for making 1oood
gas" fled Aagust 5, 1854 Letters patent issued
Augua22, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz !:
subjecting the products of destructive disillaton
therefrom TO 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 OGcc---To all persons TO
tchom these presents shall come creating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is IA true copy
from the records Of this Office OF an extract from
the specification Of w. d. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second 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 TO be hereunto
u. ,hs uaar &c onr Lord on ,bonsand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and OF the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth. G. Mason.
Extract from Specification of W. ID. Porter ON
pchieh Etters patent acre issued august %, 1854.
CI.AIM.--What | claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6c@ion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.'
The truth oft the above may be ascertaned from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access,
VIM p MCCONNELL