Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-17
9lisreIIanf0as.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
! AZ known that i the suhscril


s44 WOOD GAs.-CAUTTON.
DE It known that j, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for The destructive distillation 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 infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
pateHtea by said Porter rghtfnlly belongs 10 me,
as expect 10 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 adiudged 10 be
patentable TO the FIRST inventor thereof, and which
said w, ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed and also
a copy Of his claims. ~
sfsin the National Litegsncer Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood, and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. j ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intmdate under
such circumstances MIR. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
understood by the Patent Office, as IL appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at FIRST refused as interfering with q
prior patent TO Robert FOULS, of Canada for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood !"
The statement carries absurdy on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent ice.
If such claim right had been granted, II would
forbid every coaE-kiin and charcoal manufactory
in the country. 1918
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case;
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
August 25, 1854. I
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date. asking
is if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them The eroiasive right Of making gas. from
rood" 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 informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be nfinedto his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eaclu-
size right of making gas from tcOsd IL would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me to make
an extended investigation TO answer your re,
quest.
~ am, respectfully your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL- Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G.. Page, Washington, d. c..
TIE United States Pate,t OFce-To all persons TO
7CHOUl Ln6SC vTeSclttS SILdu COUtc, SfcttHS
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 10 the
said w. D. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
va Fl n OF the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL 81 this 25th day Of August in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
four, and ofthe independence Of the United
States the sevenfy-nintb. c. Mason
Cory of disclaimer of w. d. Porter in his otplica.
ton for "an fmprored still for making foood
gas fled Angmst 5, 1854. Letters patena issued
AngnSf22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz :
subiecting the products OF destructive distilauon
thereironl 70 a high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent O6Fcs-To all persons 10
tchoa thsse presents shall ooDie greaiHg:
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records ofthis Office OF an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Poner's patent, issued
on the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
In testimony whereof, J. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this tweniy.fifth day OF August,
II 81 In the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiy-four, and Of the
t. independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth. e. MAsoS.
E1sraof from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
ichieh leters patent pcere Issued AKgna %, 1854.
CIAIM.-Wbat claim ms my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent Is:
." The construction Of q gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF q metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones L and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
f. substantially as described in the foregoing spe.
ci6cation and shown in The accompanying draw
ingr."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
81 BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.