Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-17
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
IA V..k..x,., Sh.t Tho a,.he N -

nE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
| ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive dstillation 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. d. 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 rightfuy belongs to me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentabe 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National I,steage,lcer of the 25lh instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood,o 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with a
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance This claim, gwen 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 absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Once
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coa-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 case:
UNiTEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
Ste In renly 10 your letter Of this date, asking
" if any patent has been granted 10 W.D. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1884, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 MIN
or them "ase exclusive right Of making gas from
aoood" 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. " Porters
claims are believed TO be C mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eIciu-
sire right Of making gas from WoSd 1t would,
however, be unlusthable to expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G.. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. P. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof C. g. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent OEce-To all persons 10
pchOns these presents shall come, greting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office Of 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 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
oil the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. 81 this 25th day of August in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hfty,
four, and Of the Independence OF the United
States the seventy-nntb. u MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of w. d. Porter an has appiiea.
tioss for an Improved sttH for making toood
gas filed august s, 1854. Letters patent issued
A0gast22 1854.
az do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subecting the products OF destructive dstlilatlon
theretrom 10 high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. z. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent Offce-Io all persons TO
tchom thessprsssnts shall come creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office OF an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fhy-tour.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-hfth day OF August,
81 "A the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. Z. MASON
E1ayaa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,ctich letters patent scere issued august u, 1854
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs."
The truth Of the above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, to which all have
access. -
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.