Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-23
Y Yisfhlxntrns.


DE Il known that 4, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patentin December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distiilation OF
wood, and the making therefrom oftar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas; and that in the Judgment o.
competent persons the invention of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. u. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrlng-
ing my said patent. And, further that what -
patented by said Porter righuuIy belongs 70 me,
as / expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Ofce and, further, that the use OF
said Porter's inventions involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentabe 10 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 Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Infsl4 4gencer the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announced that he has secured by
| patent the "exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. u ask how this statement
comporfs with the fact of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can ntimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perfojated diaphragm, and was
so 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 contrivanck. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which theperfoFated diaphragm Is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the "exclusive right 10 making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdty on lis front, and
is a libel on the good bense of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, IL would
forbid every coai-kIlI and charcoal manufactory
in the country. 5fH a
The following copjes of correspondence and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Office will
show the true state d the case: 7
UN1rEI STATES PATENT OFFIcE,
Augast 25, 1854.
~o~t., ,,l,,r taxxar ~ th;s data .I;n<v
g If any patent has heen granted to w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other personbr persons, securing to him
or them sthe srclusts right of making gasJrom
tco0d,n and whether bny such claim was made by
w d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters pateif were issued bearing the
above date, you are Informed that w, d. Porter's
claims are believed ho be mined to his apparai
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been grtnted heretofore for the ezcly-
stve right of nsakiztg gas from sDosd. II would,
however, be unjustfable to expect me TO make
an extended inve&igation to answer your re-
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. MAsSN, Commissioner of Patents.
"a w. P. McCoNAEtL, Esq,
aa Care of Prof p. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United Statss Patent Ofes-To all persons to
schom these p,fsests shall come, grating:
This is to certifythat the annexed is true copy
from the files Of tbs Office Of an extract from a
paper fled in the natter Of the application of w
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application etters patent were issued TO the
said w. ID. Portei on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred knd ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, J. Charles Mason, Com
~ missioner ol Patents, have caused the seal
t1 Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL q this 25th day of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
n four, and ofthe independence ofthe United
States the Aeventy ninth. @. Mason
copv of fdisclaim<Iof W. d. Porter in his oyplica.
tion for san Improved sfiH for mak5hg scood
gas, fled Angrtf 5, 1854. Lstters pats'at issaasd
Angitsf22, 1854 rf ss8tE fas
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvement in making gas from wood, viz
subiecting the prbducts 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
TIE United Staf& Patsnf oGee-- To all PERSONS to
schom hsss trssents slal come greeting:
This is TO certify thai the annexed is true copy
from the recorddoffhis Office Of an extract from
the specifcationIof w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty iecond day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffif ffour. ~ fr
In testimony whereof, ], Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF lhe Patent Office TO be hereunto
IL 81 n the wear Of our 'Iord one tbousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, and Of the
= indcpe1ience Of the United States the
seventyninth. ~ p @. Mason.
Ezsraa from Specification of W. ID. Porter on
schiol letters palrpf svsrs tssHed Angusf % 1854.
& CLAIm.-WhatI claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure BY letters patent In .,,... !,
"The construction Of a gas apparatus OF STILL
consisting Of a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, aIsphrsm plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially q described in the foregoing spe
ci6caiion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn 30 ts{s AZ 4i.
The truth ofthS above may be ascertaned from
the records Of thePstent Office, TO which ell have
'1g Fea WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY hh attorney CHAS. o. PAGE.