Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-10
MisfkIlaHfgus.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
n a. u,,,nxx,,, xh.< thu os.I.a~ ~

DE Il known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, fol-
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation 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
used by him or any other person without inlring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfnlly belongs to me,
as expect to prove ere long before the United
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof 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
copy of his claims.
In the National I,,tsligeneer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 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.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
50 understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused 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 absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of The Patent Office.
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln 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.
SR In reply to your letter of 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 persons, securing 10 him
or them tln erclsssiue right Of making gas from
looodn 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. d. Porter'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 erclu-
stre right Of making gas from looed Ii would,
however be unjusti6able to expect me 10 make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C.MAsoN, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. P. McCoMELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent 0Gee-7o all persons to
schons these presents shall come, greting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true 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. D. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof, i, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
II. 81 this 23th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
G,ur and n he indeDe m dencH Of the limited
States the seventy-nintb. c. Mason
Copy of efdiselaimer of W D. Porter IN his appliea.
fion for "an improved still for MAKING fcood
gas filed Aagna S, 1854 Letters patent issued
AngHst22 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
The improvements in making gas from wood, wig
subjecting the products Of destructive dstillaton
herefrom TO q high degree OF heat substantially
Is has been described and for the purposes set
Iorth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The Unitsd States Patent OTee-To all persons TO |
fchopl thSsspresents shall come grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
rom the records ofthis Office of extract from |
he specification of w. ID. Porters patent, issued |
hundred and ffty-four
In testimony Whereof /, Charles Mason, Com |
missioner of Patents, have caused the |
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto |
r, =, affixed this twenty-fnh day OF August,
l. @'I in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffyfour, and Of the
independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth. 9. MASON
Ertraa from Specification of W. ID. Porter on
'ohieh letfsrs patent ve,e issued AngaSt % 1854
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction OF gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.