Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-24
MisftIlAmtnns.
WOOD CAs.-CAUTION.
~ EIaauu that n the suhGrrth,

WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE Il known that j, the subscriber OBJ
an apparatus for the destructive distia,on ol
wood, and the making ihereirom 'oftar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas; and that in the judgment ol
competent persons the invention of an appar.
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
ing my said patent And further that what {,
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
as Il expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office 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 adndged 10 be
paientable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said W.D. Porter has formally disclaimed, rs APP
pears upon the pubic records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and alss
In the National Inielligeneer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exciusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution to all parties
infringing his patent. 4. / ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidsie under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understo ID 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 to Robert Foulis, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, 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 absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent O.fce.
II such claim or right had been granted, itwouid
forbid every coai-kiln and charcoal mandatory
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:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
Il AMgxa IS, 1851
I Sir. In reply TO your letter Of this date, asking
/" If any patent has been granted 10 w, ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persoas, securing 10 him
or them I" Ms ezci4sipe right Of making gas from
Wood" 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. Porters
claims are believed 10 be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
paienth has been granted heretofore for the eacin-
sire rig]a of making gas from roosd. II would,
however, be unjuslifable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re
quest.
T Iam, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care Of Prof, c. G. Page, Washington, D. c.
Tie United States Pafent OFce--To all persons 10
schom these prGseH.s shall come, grating:
This is to certify thai the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from a
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 Odd day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifiy-four.
( In Testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused The seal
of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
H. this 23th day Of August, in the year of our
r Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifiy-
I four, and of the independence Of the United
States the seyenty-ninib. c.. Mason.
Copy of diselaip.er of W. d. Porter i,r his a,plea.
tion for an inprored sfM for making auood
gas, fied August 5, 1854. Lctters patent issued
! Angaa22 1854.
/" L do moi claim my Invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products of destructive distlation
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 Unle6 States Patent O6Eoe- To all persons 10
Uhom these ssprssents shall ooms grecting:
This is to certify that the xed is true copy
from the records Of this Office Of an extract from
the specification of w. d. porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fhy-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com.
/ afi ! missioner OF Patents. have caused the
i ir seal OF the Patent Office TO be bereunto
., affixed this twenty 6flh day OF August,
q in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and Of the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy-nintb. c. MASON
Esraf from SPECIFICATION of w. ID. Portsr on
trhich letters patenf issued AngNa %, 1854.
Ciaix.--Wbat claim as my invention and de.
sire 20 secure by letters patent is;
The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones and d, daphram plate G, and exit pipe
f. substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcstion, and shown in the accompanying draw.
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertsined from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.