Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-04
StgisftIlamagas.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
A Iuoxvu that T. the suhscr-I

s ~ WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE II known that j. the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
al apparatus for the destructive distillaiion OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas; and that 10 the Judgment Of
competent person the invention Of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person witnout intringi
/ ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter righifuly belongs 10 Inei
as ! expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent 0fce and, further, that the use Of
said Porter's invention involves also process
which / ain now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
pateniabe 10 the irst inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as apr
pears upon the public records Of said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy Of his claims.
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 all parties
infringing his patent. l ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1851 and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances2 Mr. 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 Palent Office that bis
claim was at first refused as interfering with q
prior patent 10 Robert Foulis, 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 libel on the good sense of the Patent Otice.
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kin and charcoal manuiactory
in the country. MR ~
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records ofthe Patent Office will
show the true state of the case; h sgs,s,
t. UNITED STATES PATEsr orFicE;
1s,fr 81
SIR, In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
.sif any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d august, 1851, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them : the srciAsice righf Of making gas from
mood and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for a patent,
which letters patent were issued beafing the
above date you are informed that w. ID. Porer's
claims are believed 10 be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office Is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the srela-
size right Of making gas tfon wosd IL would,
however, be unjuslifabe 10 expect me 10 make
an extended Investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant
7ara.t c. MAsos, Commissioners OF Patents.
! w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq, eiafs;os4 5l.
.sI Care Of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, D,
THE Unitsd States Pate,u Oaee-To all persons 10
tcEOm these prsse,ts shall eonte, graing
This is 10 certify that the annexed Is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office Of an extract from
paper filed in the matter Of the application OF w
d. Pouer 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 hfty-four.
In testimony whereof, L Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
a.. offthe Patent Office TO he hereunto afixed
IL. 81 Ibis 25th day Of August, in the year OF our
~, Lord one thousand eight hundred and iiiy.
four, and Of the Independence ofthe United
States the seventy-uintb. G. Mason.
Com Of disclaimer of W. d. Porter ie his eyplica.
fiSR for san improped still fan making rood
gas" "fled Aagnst 5, 1854. I@tters patent Issued
ARgRsf22, 1854. ~
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjeeiing the products of destructive dstillauon
thereirom 10 high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p Mcconnell"
The UaaSd States Pafs,t Offee---75 all persons 10
" achoRs those ygesoats shaH come gveetiHg
This is 10 certify that The annexedis a. true copy
from The records Of this Office of an extract from
the specification OF w, ID. Pouer's patent, issned
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteeni
hundred and fny-four. = s,l"H 1f f
] In testimony whereof, ., Charles M ason, Com
missioner OF Patents. have caused the
seal Of The Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty -ffth day Of Augpst,
t'tl' 81 in the year OF or Lord one thousAhd
4 II 0a eight hundred and fly -four, and OF the
-Hss - Independence OF the United States the
di 3g3iis seveniy-ninih. - = dl C. MAsos.
Esaraef from Specifications efo w. ID. Porter on
lchieh etfers pei.nt Pcere issued ANgra % 1854.
:, CIAJM---What claim as my invention and dc.
sire to secure by letters patent is
The construction OF gas apparatus or still, 4
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b. the
eohes r aud ID, diaphram plate G, and exn pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ei6cstion, and shown in The accompanying draw
ings.n sfe,g st5ssrts = sE EIR fst 4
The truth Of the above may be ascerained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access. - i
~ 'Qilt79 WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
aHs BY his attorney CIIAS. @. PAGE.