Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-27
MisfGIlaMkGms
WOOD GAs.-CAuTIoN.

II IL KNOWN tnaJ u, the suDsCTlDtr OD-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, foi
an apparatus for the destructive distillaton o.
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment o
competent persons the invention of an appar.
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrng.
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me,
as i expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; 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
patenable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclamed, 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.
In the National Istellige,cer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1881, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understoo od by the Patent Office, as it 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 claim, 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 libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
II such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coa-kn 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
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
STp Tn raplu m LETTER nf this date asking
"if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persoas, securing 10 him
or them "theezclusire right Of making gas from
acood" 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed to be Mined to his appara-
tus and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercin-
stue right OF making gas from ''osd II would,
however, be unjustfable 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 G. G. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United States Patent OGce-Io all persons TO
aohom these presents shall cOuas, grating:
This is to 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.
D. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and hityfour.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
H. s. 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 seventy-uintb. G. Mason.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w ID. Porter tn hts arpfieG,
tion for an improrsd stM for waking t1ood
gaS,rfled august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
ANgKa22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjeclng the products of destructive distlla,ion
therefrom TO high degree Of heat, substa antally
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent O6fce-To all persons to
tchom heSepreSeH shall come creating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records ofibis Office of an extract from
the specification Of W. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-iour.
In testimony whereof, l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
r. affixed this twenty 6fh day OF August,
H. S'I in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seveniy-ninth. 9. MASON
Ezayact from Specification of W. d. Porter on
.cLieh ktters pdtent tceye issned AngNa %, 1854.
CIAIM.-Whst claim 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 and ID, disphram plate G, 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 Office, TO which all have
access. .
VIM p. MCCONNELL.
Bv his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.