Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-10
IgisfsIlaaf0ns.
WOOD CAs.-CAUTTON.

DE Ii known that j, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1885, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood and the making therelrom 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 without nfring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully 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
patentable TO The first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
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,,telltgenecr OF the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood,p 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 iDtimidate under
such circumstances? MIR. 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 a
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent conirivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
the ''exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Oihce
Ifsuch claim or right had been granted, itwoud
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
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
I" if any patent has been granted 10 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 ereitsive right Of making gas from
rood" 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eTcln-
size right of MAKING gas from tcosd II would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect me to make
an extended Investigation TO answer your re-
quest
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant, I,
c. MASON Commissioner of Patents.
W. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The u,rited STATES Patent OGee-7o all persons 10
ohons these presents shall come, gratng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from
paper fled in the matter Of the application of w.
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fiiy-four.
In testimony whereof, / Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused The seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL. 81 This 25th day Of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and ofthe independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb G. Mason.
Copy of disclaimeref ". D. Porter IN his Gppiiea.
tion for "an imprOred HW for making tcood
gas FLED August 5, 1854. Letters patent Issued
Angnst22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecting the products OF destructive distation
therefrom 10 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 O6ce-To all persons 10
tchon these presents shall come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofthis Office of au extract from
the specification of w. ID. Pouer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-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-ffih day OF August
IL 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifly-four, and of the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G.. MASON.
E1araa from, Specification of w ID. Porter on
Schich letters patent scere issued AugEst 22 1854.
Whit claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cfcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.'
The truth ofihe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access. ..s
VIM P. MCCONNELL
By his attorney CHAS G. PAGE.