Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-15
MisfsIlamfDns
WOOD oGAs.-CAUTIoN.
!. IL known that u, the subscI.il

lie IL known that =, the supscripeI op- %.
Id tanned letters patent in December. 4 1s5l, for
an apparatus for The destructive distaion 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
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghiiully belongs 70 me,
as i 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 ONCE, and which has been adjudged 70 be
pateniabe TO the first inventor thereof and which
said W. d. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records Of said ofiice, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy Of his claims, 4 49, n. ,rs. s..,fi5, s,nt
In lie Nafiohai I,atezigenesr Of the 25ih instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "excusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution to all parties
infringing his patent ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent ofDecember,
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 it appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was al 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 fexcusive 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 a claim or right had been granted itwonld
forbid every coal-liln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. 10 no sisss snpSJi aa R7Va
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Ofhce Will
show the true state of the case: hela sst rs
So .t,it UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
s, ss,..,s. .f..tze Aug71St 25, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking.
g il 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 10 him
or them " hsszelnsips right Of making gas from
,goodp and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for q patent,
which letters patent We're issued bearing The
above date you are informed that w ID. Porters
claims are believed to be c mined 10 his appara-
ttis and, further, this ofKce is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eacln-
size right of making gas from acosd. IL would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me TO make
an extended Investigation to answer your re-
quest. ,. ,r
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. MoCoNAEII, Esq, s;t.,er u
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. 9.
The U,ited States Patsnt 06iee-To all persons 10
aclions these presents shall come, grating
This is 10 certify that the annexed Is atrne copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from a
paper filed in the matter of the application OF W.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
7's Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
II. 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 seveniy-nntb. z. MASON.
Coyy of faiselaimer of w. d. Porter ia his applica.
tion for an ieiprored stiu for making scood
ga" FLED Augtst S, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augna %, 1854.
g"I do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz :
subjectiny the products OF destructive distiaton
therefrom to a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described aud for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p. McConnell,'
The United STATES Patent o@es-7S all persons TO
tchont ttSsepyeSents shall come grecting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four. 1884. t
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
?, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
IL s.I in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and hfty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Eziraet from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
trhich letters pateni rcere issued august %, 1854.
I CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is: ftar
"The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones z and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cston, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings" ..,.. -. ,.....l. - .f
( The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office TO which all have
access. t-i al hfatfI. ~ 4fIit
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.