Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-15
MisffIlaMfnms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

TIE It known that I, the subscriber OBJ
Id tained letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch at
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 iniring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
pafsntsd by said Porter rightfuily belongs ION 70 me,
States Patent Ofice and, further, that the use OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged TO be
patentable to the first inventor fhereof 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
q copy of his claims.
In the National Iateligeneer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusve right TO making gas from
wood,n 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? 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 as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This clnim as given 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 a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
If such claim or right had been granted, 1t would
forbid every coal-kln and charcoal manufactory
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
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25 1854.
or IL 1oso iuo
aif any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854 or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons securing TO him
or them a the ercinsive right Of making gas from
apoodn and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. d. Portsr's
claims are believed TO be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezeia-
sivs right Of making gas from tcos@ It would,
however be unjustifable to expect me to make
am extended investigation to answer your re-
quest. :,
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
C. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. MoCoNAELI, Esq,
Care Of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, u. q.
The United States Patent OGce-To all persons to
achons these presents shall come, grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from a
paper filed in the matter of the application of W.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said W. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fftyfour.
In testimony whereof, i, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
f.. ST. this 25th day Of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and Of the independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. c. Mason.
Conn of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his applicas
non for /" AN inprored stH for making rcood
gas sled AngNst S, 1854 Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz
subjecting the products of destructive distiation
therefrom to 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 O9oe-TS all persons TO
rchon1 thssspreseus shall come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
the specification Of w. D. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
'imissioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
>. affixed this twenty-fifth day OF August,
tL 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fhy-four, and Of the
independence Of the United States the
seyenty-ninth. G. Mason.
Ertraot from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,chieh effers patent scere issned august % 1854.
CLAIM.-Whst claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
1.-THE construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe.
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
| ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Ofice 10 which all have
| access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. 9. PAGE.