Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-07
Sg gistfIlaMsGus.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
IA Luaxuu that fhe Qxrheeriher oh.

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 intrng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs 10 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 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. d. Porter has formally dsclaimed, ss APP
pears upon the public records OF said ofiice, of
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy of his claims
In the National I,ttelfgsncsr of the 25th instant
Mr. Potter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" 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 intimdate 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 Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm ~ the
| saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
| is libel on the good sense of the Patent Oiice.
If such claim right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
| in the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Ohice VIII
| show the true slate of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august IS, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
q il 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 to him
or them the ezci~siw right Of making gasJ from
scood" 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 moi aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eactn-
sire right of making gas fros scosd. II would,
however, be unjusiifable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
l. sae C. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. C.. g. Page, Washington, d. Q.
The United States Patsat O6fce-To all persons 10
ichom d1sse presents shall come, grating
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of this Office OF extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
ID. Porter 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 ifiy-four
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be herennto 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-uintb. G. Mason.
COPY of disclaiDser Of w d. Porter MS alPlica.
fiol for aaR imprOUed still for making scOod
gas filed AHgHst 5, 1854. Letfers patent issued
August D, 1884.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subiecting the products of destructive distiation
thereirom TO a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of W. p. Mcdonnell"
The Uaiied States Palsnt OEce-IS all persons 10
sclaom these presents shall come greaiHg:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from The records ofthis Office Of extract from
the specification Of w. d. Poner's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fny-lour.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
=, affixed this twenty6nh day Of August,
IL 81 in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four aud OF the
Independence OF the United States the
seyentv-ninth. &. MASON.
Earned from SPECIFICATIONS Of w. ID. Porter on
aohieh kftsrs pafe,n tceSe issNed Aagna -, 1854
CLAIM.--What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
The construction OF gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder Il, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe.
cifcation, AID shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth the above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.