Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-03
WOOD GAs.-CAuTIoN.

i TIE Ii known that L, the subscriber oh
/ Id tanned letters patent in December, 1891, lor
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
! wood, and the making thererom OF tar or pitch at
/ pleasure and gas and that in the judgment OF
| coppetent persons the invention of an appar-
lus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
] used by him or any other person without infring-
| ing nv said patent. And, further that what is
pate7aed by said Porter rghtfnliy belongs 10 me,
| as expect 10 prove long before the United
States Patent Office; and further, that the use OF
| said PorIers invention involves also process
| which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged,to be
pateniable to the first inventor thereof aud which
| said w d. Porter has formally disclaimed APP
| pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy Of his claims. .n Z.
In The National I,ateHigencer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
| paten, the exclusive right 10 making gas from
woodn and threatens prosecution 10 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 ntimdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Por.er's clam is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering win
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrivance. This claim, as given be-
low and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the ',exclusve right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdty on It's front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the faient o'hce
If such claim or right had been granted il would
forbid every coal-kiln 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:
UNIrEp STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25 1854.
SIN In ranlv IN vour 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 10 MIN
or them !" tie e1clnsius right Of MAKING gas from
fyood" 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. u forters
claims are believed TO be mined 10 his appara-
tus and further, this Office Is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the e1clu-
sine right of making gas from 1oosd. Ii would,
however be unjusti6able 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esqr
Care of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, ID. Z.
The United States Patent OGee-To all persons 10
tohom these presents shall come, grettng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed Is atrue 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 win
which application letters patent were issued TO ths
said w. d. Porter on the I'D day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony Whereof |, Charles mason, Oom-
missioner of Patents have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto afhxed
L. S. this 25th day of August, IN the year oi our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hity-
four and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy u MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter in hts appAca,
ION for "an improved stiA for making t0ood
gas Gkd AuguSt,5, 1854. Letters patent issued
august %, 1854
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ;
subieciing the products of destructive distlaton
theretrom TO a high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. T. Mcdonnell"
The United States Patent O6ioe-Io all persons 70
loIto1a thess presents shall come grazing:
This i 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records OF this office oil an extract from
the specification Of W. ID. Pouers patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August eighteen
hundred and hfty-tour.
In restimony whereof |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty.fhh day, OF August
= 81 n the wear of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ifty.four and OF the
Independence Of the United States the
s.yen,v-ninth c. Mason
Ea1raot from Specification Of W. ID. Perier on
winch Lsisrs pateni tcere issued august Z2, 1894.
CLArM.-What claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent Is :,
THE construction OF a gas apparatus or still,
combating OF a metallic or other cylinder Is, the
cones 4 and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially a. described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown ia the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertalned from
he records OF The Paient Once, 10 which all have
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. q. PAGE.