Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-05
1isfeIlana0ms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.


DE 1t known that i, 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 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 witnout lnfring-
! ing my said patent. And, further that what IS
| patented by said Porter rightfuy belongs to me,
as 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 10 be
patentabe TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. D. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records of said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, aud also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Isteligencer 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 bis patent. | ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim isIbased
| upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
| 80 understood 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 diaphragmlis 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 Q ice.
If such claim or right had been granted. il would
| forbid every coal-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.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date. asking
8 if any patent has been granted TO w. d. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854 or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them " The errlNsfpe rightof making gas from,
mood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. D Porter, under his application for patent
which letters patent were issued bearing the
bovs date. you are informed that W. d. Portors
claims are believed 10 BE- mined 10 his appara
us: and, further, this office is net aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the srclu
tue right Of making gas from troSd II would.
however. be unjustihable 10 expect me to make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
Q. Mason, Commissioners OF Patents.
w. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G, Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent Ofce-To all persons 10
tchor, ft,,ss presents shall come, greting:
This is tt certify thai the annexed is 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. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and 6fty-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents. have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereun,o affixed
Il. 81 this 25th day of August. in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffy-
four, and ofihe independence fthe United
States the seycnty-uintb. g. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer Of ": d. Porter IN his epplica.
tion for I" an improved sfil for making qcood
ga" filed Angnst $, 1854. Letters pateHt issued
August %, 1854.
"I do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gns from wood, viz:
subjecting the products Of destructive distation
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 OFce-To all persons to
ichom these prssents shall come creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofths ofh"e of an extract from
the specification of W. ID. Porer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and iay-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
r. . I affixed this twcnty-htth day OF August,
H. 81 in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and of the
independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth G. Mason.
Er1yact from Specification of W. ID. Porter on
tchieh letters patent acre issued August %, 1854.
CLAIm.--What claim my Invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
The construction of gas apparatus or STILL
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B. the
cones E and ID, diapbram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe
cifcstion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth the above may be ascerlaned from
the records OF the Patent Office, 20 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CIIAS. G. PAGE.