Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-03
s9lisfkIlansoms
WOOD GAs.--CAUTION.
J Il it known that i, the subscrib

DE 1t known that ], the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December. 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive dislilIaion OF
wood, and the making herefrom oftar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention of an appar-
ius recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot he
used by him or any other person witnout infrine-
ing my said patent And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightlnlly belongs TO me-
as expect 10 prove ere long before The United
States Patent Odice and, further. that the OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Ofice and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable 10 the first inyentor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally dseIaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said saffice, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy Of his claims
In the National Iateliigencer 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
comports 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 a 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 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 Office.
Ii such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. a3 K
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,
AngMsf 25 1854.
SIR In reply TO your letter Of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted to 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 errlafsive right Of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. D. Porter under his application for patent
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date you are informed that w. D.. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be mined to his appara-
tus; aud, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for The encln-
sire right of making gas from seosd, Itwoud,
however, be unjusiifable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest. af
I am, respectfully, your obedien, servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. MoCoNAELI, ESQ., M. ~.
Care Of Prof. C, @. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United STATES Patsnt OGce--I5 all persons to
whom these presents shall come, gratrg:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from tue nics Oi tnlS OuCc Ol du c1tFdcI lrOtn II
paper filed in the matter Of the application Of w.
ID. 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
eighteen hundred and fify-four
In testimony whereof / Charles Mason, CON-
missioner of Patents have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunio affixed
IL. g. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
s.- Lord one tilossaHde eight hundred and iiiy-
four, and of the independence of the United
Al -. - ~
COPY Of disclaimer Of w d. Porter an his agplica.
fion for t' an improued sfiH for making scood
gas, nfsd Asgsa s, 1854. Letters patent issNsd
AHgsSt %, 1854, s
" l DO not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecing the products OF destructive dstiTiation
therelrom 10 high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p Mcconnell"
The Uaited States Patent Ohce--Io al yersoHs 10
schons Msseyrfsenis shall come greeting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofihis Office OF an extract from
the specification Of w. d. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen |
hundred and fay-fonr. m
: In testimony whereof, !, Charles Mason, Com |
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
r, affixed this twcnty-dfh day OF August
u in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fhy.four and Of the
independence Of the United States the
t seventy-ninth. c. Mason
Epraet from Specification Of w d. Porter on
sghioh letters pat>,f sysre issNsd AsgrSf %, 1854
CIAiN.-What claim my invention and DE-.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
The construction Of gas apparatus or sill.
consisting Of metallic or other cylinder b, The
cones aud ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
2, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs.N
The truth ofthe sbsve may be ascertained from
access. 49, lYf al4 i
hsf n5 WIN. r. MCCONNELL.
By bis attorney CHAS. 9. PAGE.