Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-29
WOOD GAs.-CAuTroN.
DE it known that ], the subscrIber

DE 1t known that j, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December 1851. for
an apparatus for the destructive distila,ion Of
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or ptch at
pleasure, and gas; and that in the judgment of
competent persons the invention Of an appar
tns recently patented by W. d. Porter canno, be
used by him or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent. And further that vhat g.
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
as expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use of
said Porters invention involves also process
winch am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and Which has been adludged 10 be
patenable to the first inventor thereof aud v bch
said W.D. Porter has formally disclaimed. ss an
pears upon the public records Of said Office of
which an Official copy is hereto annexed and also
a copy OF his claims
III the National Iuteligencer of the 25ih instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood and threstens prosecution TO all parties
Infringing his patent. ask now this statement
COMFORTS with the fact OF my patent OF December
1851 and how far the threat intiinidaie un der
such crcanistancesl Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated Diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Ofice. as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that mis-
claim was AT first refused as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada, Tor an
equivalent conirivaace. This claim, az given be-
low, and IN which the perforated diaphragm M is the
SAVING clause is what MIR Porter calls securing
the exclusive right making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdny its front and
is a'libei on the good sense of the Patent O ce
If such claim or right had been granted, itwoud
forbid every coal-kiln aud charcoal mandatory
in the country. t1.Ar8, fH tNJ
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records the Patent Office will
show The true state of the case; 8A
7h sss ~ UNITED STATES PATENT OrrIcE
A@gna rs, 1854.
g.. v : =. ...F
9 il any patent has been granted 10 w b. Porter
dated 22d August, 1851, or al any other time or
10 any other person or persons securing TO him
or them he ezriaSir rfght Of making gas from
rood" aud whether any such clam 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 believed 10 be confined 10 his appsra-
tus; and, further, this office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eTclu-
aus right ef making gas from. wo.d :, Il would
| however be unjus,i6able TO expect me to make
| an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest. ,.'53 - 20 f9tlit .~ENffEf
e'' am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
g. c. Mason, Commissioner offatents.
w; p. McCoNAELI> Esq
I Care of Prof g. G. Page, Washington, d. C.
The United States Patems O6cs-To all pe,sous 10
arhom these presents AiaH come, grstirg
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue copy
| paper filed in the matter of the application of W.
| ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent issued to the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-sour.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
Il. 81 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
MI h. MT init
Copy of disclaimer of w d. Porter -, his appliea.
ton for can improved niu for making rood
gas fLd august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
| the improvements in making gas from wood viz:
subjecing the products Of destructive dstiIlstion
| therefrom to 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 OGoe--To all persons TO
| tchor1 these presents shall co1ss creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true COPY
from the records OF this Office Of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Pouer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August eighteen
hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
r, 4 affixed this twenty fifth day of August,
" 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6ly-four, and Of the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. C.MAsoN.
Ezirdcf from Specification of W. ID. Porter on
~hieh letters patent tcsre issued Angua ~, 1854.
CIAIN.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"Thc construction Of gas apparatus or STILL
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, tho
cones aud d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ciHcstion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth Of the absve NAV he ascer,ainrd from
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
WIN. p MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.
Aug. PIP
NEW YORK AND ERIE mr. m