Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-15
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
A u

DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillatlon 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 inirlng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 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 an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy Of his claims.
In the National Intsligsnesr 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 intimidate under
such circumstancess Mr.. Porters claim Is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Ofce, as il 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 gwen be-
low and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving Clause, Is Whit IOItCI Saho SOSuiiuH
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 claim or right had been granted, It 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:
UsIrEs STATES PATENT OFFlcK,
Amgua IS 1854
SIR. In reply to your letter OF this date, asking
!" if any patent has been granted TO W. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them {" tbs exclusive right Of making gas from
1cood,n and whether any such claim was made oy
w. D. Porter, under his application Tor patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing tne
above date you are informed that W. ID. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined to MS apPara-
tus; and, further, this office is not aware that q
patent has been granted heretofore for the ereln-
sivs right of making gas from to0Dd. II would,
however, be unjustiiabe 10 expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
C. MAsos Commissioner of Patents.
Care Of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
I'll. United States Patent O6ee--To all persons TO
sohonsshese presents shall como, gre'ng
from the files of this Office of an extract from
paper fled in the matter of the application OF w.
D. Porter for letters patent, In accordance win
which application letters patent were issued 20 ths
said W. ID. Porter the 22d day OF August
eighteen hundred and ffly-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto aihxed
H. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hhy-
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy ninth. Y. MASON
Copy of disclaimer Of W. ID. Porter IN ms applicG.
tion for "aa improved stiu for making GOOD
gas 6led august 5, 1854. Lettsrs patent 's'1ed
Amgast22, 1854.
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjecing the products of destructive distiiiauon
tberefrom to high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcdonnell
TBx Iynirea STATES Patent Office To al persons to
,chon, these presents shall come creating:
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. D. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
In testimony whereof 1, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be horeunto
affixed this tweniy-ffth day OF August,
81 n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6fiy-four, and OF the
Independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth Y. MASON.
Enz,aa from Specification Of W. d. Porter on
.chich letters pats,,t issHed August ~ 1894.
CLAM-What | claim as my Invention ana de-
sire TO secure by letters patent Is -
"The construction Of gas apparatus or stu,
consisting sf a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones + and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing sPe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
Bv his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.