Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-06
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
\ Il n kuoWu that l. the auhsc r5her

DE IL known that I, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation 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 without infring-
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 Porter's invention involves also a 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 ap-
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 Intelligenoev 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. l ask how this statement
comports with the fact OF my patent OF December,
1851 and how far the threat can intimidatc under
such circumstancesa Mr.. Porters claim Is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent OfRce, as II appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO 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 TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdlty on ITS 'front.', and
Is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Once
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coa-kiln and charcoal mandatory
an the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state Of the ease:
UNrrp STATES PATENT OrYIcK,
Augua IS, 1854.
Late n dat ali
"if any paten has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person OF persons, securing to him
or them ths eroinsics righ Of Making gas from
,cooIn and whether any such claim was made oy
W. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date you are informed that w. ID. Porters
claims are believed TO be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the e2cir-
sive righf of MAKING gas from 1esd IL would,
however, be unjustihable to expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest. II
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, ESQ.
Care Of Prof. G. @. Page, Washington, u. Y.
tn, United States Pate,it Ofce-To all persons to
,chom these presents shall cone grating:
This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy
paper filed in the matter 81 inc application Of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. b. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fftyIour.
In testimony whereof i, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto asked
IL al this 25fh day Of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6fy.
four, and OF the Independence Of the United
States the seveniy-nInih =. MASON
ceyy Of xssei~sss>r sf W. ID. Psr~ 80 Ass sryi'es.
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81 DO cot claim ss my invention and discovery
the improvements IN mskiag sss from wood, via
suheciins the products ef desir.ctivs ds''ilss'cn
tb~r~frou 10 kixk degree of hest. sobsss atssiiy
.. has b~en described snd Zoe the purposes sei
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wM r. MCCONNELL.
Nv kis sue~sey CNAs q. fkok