Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-19
WOOD GAs.-CAuTluN.

DE IL known that 1, the subscriber Gb-
I'D taned letters patent in December 1881. for
AN apparatus for the destructive dlstlllatGn OF
wood, and the making thereirom OF Tar or pllch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar
tns recentv patented by w ID. Porter cannot be
used 10y him or any other person without lnirng
ing my said patent And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rishtlully belongs me
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that The o
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged 10 be
paeniable 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 an official copy is hereto annexed and also
copy OF his claims.
In the Maltonai IateLigeucer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive 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,
1851 and how far the threat can intiInidae 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 first refused as Interfering with a
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, gwen be-
low and in which the perforated diaphragm ls the
SdVlIg cause ls what NiT OItci Cdils scSuiliS
the exclusive right TO making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdiiy on its front, aud
is libel on the good sense of The Patent Odce
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiin and charcoal manniactory
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
UNIrEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
A~gua 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 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
10 any other person Or persons, securing 10 him
them g the ercinstve RI GIN Of making gas from
acoodn and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter under his application for 4 patent,
which letters patent We're issued bearing the
above date you are informed that w. d. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further this office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore tor the czci1t
sIce rsght Of making gas from co.9 Ii would
however, be unjustifabe TO expect me to make
an extended investigation TO answer your re.
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedenl servant,
O. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w p MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington. ID. c.
The Uaited States Patsnt O9fce-Io aH PERSONS TO
ajlo1, these presents shall come, grating
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office OF extract from
paper filed in the matter OF the application OF w.
d. 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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof | Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
L. 81 this 25th day Of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hfy-
and n the indeup uleuge OF the United
States the seventy-nmtb, e. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of w ID. Porter IN his arpica.
non for san Improved stiH for making toood
gas fLd August S, 1854 Letters patent isSacd
August q 1854.
. do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
sublecting the products of destructive dlstlllauon
therelrom 10 a high degree Of heat, substantially
a. has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification OF w. p. Mcdonnell
The Unilsd States Patent Offce-T0 all persons to
tohom these presents shall c0Das greettng
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office OF an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porier's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ilty-tour
In testimony whereof, !. Charles Masony Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused The
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
u S ~. vaar oS our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffly-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth G. MASON.
Enyact from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
1cJaich Itters patshi ,cere issued Angna p 1854.
CLAIM-Whai claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
THE construction OF gas apparatus or sllli,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder Is, the
cones and d. daphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation aud shown in the accompanying draw
ings.h
The truth ofthe above may be asceriained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access. -
VIM r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. q. PAGE.