Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-29
MisfeIlaMfGms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

DE Il known that i, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distilaton 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. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuly 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 TO be
patentabe to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, as APP
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 IateHigencer 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,
1851 and how far the threat can intimidae under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated 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
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 a claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kin 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 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 :" the e1clustve right of making gas from
mood" 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 C mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the e1cln-
size right of making gas from Uosd. 1t would,
however, be unjustifable. 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. C. G. Page, Washington, d. c. ]
The United STATES Patent Offce-To all persons 10
schons these presents shall come, grating:
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.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fity-four.
In testimony whereof / Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. s. this 25th day Of August, 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.
Copy of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter his appliea.
ton for san improued still for making toood
gas, FLED august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
AKgnSt22 1851.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subleciing the products of destructive distlation
therefrom 10 a high degree OF heat, substa ntally
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OGce-To all persons TO
tchom these presents shall come greeting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. d. Pouer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
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.ffh day OF August,
L'o] in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffly-four, and of the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. c. Mason.
Ez1rad from Specification Of w. d. Porter on
tchich letters patent issued august %, 1854.
CLAH-What claim my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B. the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcstion, 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.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.