Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-06
aDlisffIlaHfnMs.


TIE IL known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1891, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation 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 iufring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfuly belongs 10 me,
as / expect to prove ere long before the United
States Pa,eut Once and, further, that the of
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjndged 10 be
pateptable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed. rs APP
pears upon the public records Of said Office, Of
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of claims.
4 Inihe National Iitsli igsncsr 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
compors with the fact Of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated Diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that bis
claim was al first refused as interfering with a
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
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 Odice.
If such claim or right had been granted, itwousd
forbid every coai-kin and charcoal manutactory
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:
a UNITED STArEs PATENT OFFICE
August %, 1854.
r. <,c oorf
aif any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1851, or al any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them The ercfusius yighf Of making gas from
acood," 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. Porters
claims are believed 10 bee mined TO his appara-
tus and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezclx-
sire right of making gas from wosd II would, /
however, be unjustifable TO expect me to make |
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
/ am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
a c. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
a Care Of Prof G, g. Page, Washington, D. c.
The United States Pattn. otHce--To all PERSONS 10
tchom these presents shall come, gyeting:
This is 10 certify thar the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from
paper fled 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. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eghteen hundred and .ffty-ibur
In testmony whereofvl Charles Mason, Com,
Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
H. ST this 25th day Of August in the year OF our
: Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffy-
four, and ofthe Independence ofthe United
& States the seventy ninth c. Mason.
Cory Of disclaimer of w d. Porter si has applica.
non for san iHpropsd stiH for making rood
gas, fied Augna 5, 1854. Letters patent issKed
s Angaa % 1854. Ft
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
subiecing the products Of destructive dstillation
thereirom 10 high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described, and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p Mcconnell"
TIE Usritsa States PafsH 0Gcs-- To all pr-sOns 10
: sclioal ullnpresc,fs shall come greeting:
This Is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the records fthis Office Of an extract from
the specification OF w. ID. Porer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
IN m testimony @ whereof i, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner cf Patents, have caused the |
seal OF the Patent Office to be hereunto
:, affixed this twentyffh day Of August,
IL - in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and hhy. -four, and Of the
Independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. Q. Mssos.
E1rraa from SPECIFICATION Of W. ID. Porter on
sghich kfers patent sccfs issrsd Asgua %, 1854.
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID. diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe.
ci6caiion, and shown In The accompanying draw
ingslH t.... -.
The truth ofthe absve may be ascerained from
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney cHAS. @. PAGE.