Washington sentinel., 1856-04-03
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

I h. Al known that j, the subscriber nD-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive dslillation OF
wood, and the making thereiron OF tar or pitch al
pleasure, aud gas; and that In The Judgment OF
competent persons the invention of an appar-
lns recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person witnout infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
pata,aed by said Porter rightfnly belongs 10 me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Oace; and, further, that the use OF
said P0rier's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged 10 be
paien.ube TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, Of
which an official copy Is hereto annexed, and also
4 copy OF his claims.
In the National IateQigenoer OF the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood, and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how tins statement
comports with the fact of my patent OF December,
1851 and how far the threat can intimidale under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records of the Patent OHice that his
claim was a, first refused az interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada for an
equivalent contrivauce This claim, rs given be-
low and IN which the perforated diaphragm Is the
.ving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries ahsurdty on lis front, and
Is libel on the good sense OF the Patent Ohce
Ii such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coni-lln and CHARCOAL mandatory
the country
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records oil the Patent once VIII
show the true state of the ease
lFylrEs STATES PATEsT OFFICE,
Aug0a 25, lS5ts
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
vi any patent has been granted TO w. u. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
To any other person or persons, securing 70 him
or them . the erciusips right Of making gas from
,good" and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patcnt We're issued bearing Inc
above date, you informed that w. u. PorteTs
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
ius; aud further, this office ~ mol aware that
patent has been granted heretofore tor the ercla-
,ipo right Of maAtng gas from n0-d IL Wouid,
however, be unustfable 10 expect me- 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest
AN, respectfully your obedient servant,
G. MASON, Commissioners OF Patents
w T.. McCoNAELi. Esq,
Care of Prot. G. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
Tbs United Sta1es Patent ORce-To all persons 70
ichoua tLosc presents shall come, grettAg:
This is 10 certiy that the annexed IS a true copy
RON the files OF this Office Of an 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 10 tho
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day oil August,
eighteen hundred and 6ily-iour.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com.
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
fl. = this 25th day OF August, IN the year oi our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and my.
four, and OF the Independence OF the United
States The ~eventy-nlntb. y. MASON
CORY Of aiscl4iaer Of W. d. Porter an ms afpfiea.
non for an Improved stU for MAKING teood
gas" fLed august 8, 1854. Letters pate'at tssnnd
Angast -, 1854.
do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjecting the products of destructive dlstlllauon
therefrom 10 a high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described aud. for the purposes sci
forih in the specification Of w. r. Mcdonnell
,rL, U0ie,a Stoa.s Patent OGce-1o aH persons 10
.oAOg. th,se pyes,Mts shall come creating:
This IL 10 certily that the annexed Is true copy
from The records oi thIs oiilce oil an exuact rom
the Specification Of w. ID. Pouerls patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffiy-lour
In testimony whereof 1, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hcreunto
affixed this twenty-hfth day of August
!" ~ n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
Independence OF the United States the
.svsntv.nnth g. Mason.
Egayoo from Specification gf w. ID. Porter on
rchtel taers patent tcere issued dHg5a ~ loos'
GLhIM-Whai / Claim az my Invention ana oe'
sire 10 secure by letters patent Is
The construction of a gas apparatus or sun
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder u, the
cones Il and ID, dlaphram plate 2, and exit pipe
r. substantially described in the foregoing spe
ci6cation. and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertalned from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which ell bave
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
IIy his attorney CHAS. 6. PAGE.