Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-30
MisfAlantGms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

tIg.Q WOOD GAS.--CAUTION.
DE II known that j, the subscriber OBJ
I'D 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 person. the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person witnout infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 70 me-
as | expect to prove ere long before the United
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 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
q copy of his claims. e gta E.5a-f.5
In the National Intelligencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive 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 Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intmdate 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
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 absurdiiy on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office.
Ii such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. @Htst3s Ssh
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case:
Gt UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
WI s.r.tsrt3 sse . August 25, 1854
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
/" if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person persons, securing 10 him
or them "khe errfastve right Of MAKING gas from
icood,n 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be mined TO his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the erefa-
siue right Of making gas from fcosd 1t would,
however, be unjustifable to expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest. ilg3g5 g5gs 3H. l9g
/ am, respectfully, your obedient servant
~ G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq, ~
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. G,
TIE, United States Patent O6fee-- To all PERSONS to
sohous these presents shall come, grsttng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office OF an extract from
paper fled 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 fifty-fonr. tt
In testimony whereof, l Charles Mason, Com
/ 81 missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of The Patent Office 10 he hereunto xed
H. S. this 25th day of August in the year Of our
r ctr Lord one thousand eight hundred and flly-
n -.ry four, and of the Independence Of the United
States the seventy ninth. c. Mason.
Copy of DISCLAIMER of W. d. Porter IN his a,,pica.
tion far "a,s impropea still for making icood
gas pfLd August 5, 1854. Letters patent issned
Angnst2 %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz:
subeciing the prod ucts of destructive disl llauon
thereirom TO high degree of heat, substa ntially
as has been described and for The purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The Uaaea States Pate,it OGee-To an persons TO
schon teseprese,ts ataH conne greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records OF this Office Of an extract from
The specification OF w. D. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four isr f ~.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affix xed this iwenty-ffth day of August
IL 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy ninth. G. Mason.
Ezaracf from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
lphieh letters patent scere issued AKgnst % 1854.
CLAM.-What / claim as my invention and de.
sire to secure by letters patent is ~
THE construction of a gas apparatus STILL
co opsisting OF metallic or other cylinder b. the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe abevemay be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
VIM r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CIIAS. G. PAGE.