Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-14
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.
DE II known that 4, the subscriber o

DE Ii known that I, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, ISL, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillatlon OF
wood, aud the making thereirom OF tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas; and that in the Judgment ois
competent persons the invention of appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without nfring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfuy belongs 10 me,
expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the oil
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patenable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally diselaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy OF his claims. N8a
In the National Iatslltgeucer 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 circumstances? MIR. Porters claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, il appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused 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
the exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Oi!ice
If such claim or right had been granted, itwould
forbid every coa-kn and charcoal manuiactory
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
UNrTEs STATES PArENT OFFICE,
A4gua 25 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
If any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated I'D August, 1884, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons securing to him
or them !" the eaciustue right Of making gas from
,oood, aud 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 believed TO be mined to his aPpara-
tus; and, further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eaciu
size right Of making gas from scosd. IL would
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United States Patent ORce-To all persons TO
schonl these presents shall ooDae, grating:
This is 10 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 the 22d day of August
eighteen hundred and tifly-four.
In testimony whereof | Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
L. S. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
and M he nd snenlanre of the United
States the seventy ninth. O. MASON
Copy of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter fn his apptca.
tion for "an Improved stW for making scood
gas, fled August s, 1854. Letters patent issued
dugaa %, 1854.
I" / do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood viz:
sublectng the products of destructive dlstlllation
therefrom TO high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The Injured States Patent Ofce-T0 all persons 10
sschona these presents shall come creating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office OF an extract from
the specification OF w. d. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and 6fiy-tour.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused The
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
r, . afhxed TINS tWenty-hth Gay OF august,
= . N the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiy-four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-nnih z. MASON
Eaurad from Specification Of w. ID. Perer on
.ohicli letters patent acre issued AHgnst 22 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO 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 G, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6caton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE