Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-22
MisfGIlaMf0ms.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
AZ known that l.. the subscrf

TIE n known that L. the subscriber OBJ
h Id tanned letters patent in December, 1901, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillailon 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 infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what rs
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO 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 to be
patentabe to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records of said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Laelligsncer 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 intmdate under
such circumstances? 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 as interfering with
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 absurdty on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Othce.
If such claim or right had been granted, IT would
forbid every coa-kln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts From the records of the Patent Office will
show the tue state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
august 25, 1854.
c. t. Ia,,a of jata sti
(" if any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them The ereiasive 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. ID. Porters
claims are believed to be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclit-
sue right Of making gas from icoed. ~ would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest. 20
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
The United States Patent O6fce--To all persons to
achom these presents shall come, grating
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office Of an 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 to the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and 6fty-iour.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
H. 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
States the seventy-nintb. G. MASON
Conn of disclaimer of W. d. Porter is has ayplica.
ton for "an imprOped stiH for making rood
gas fLed August s, 1854. Letters patent issued
AHgHt %, 1854.
"I do not claim as my invention and discovery |
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz;
subecting the products Of destructive distillation
therefrom to high degree Of heat, substantially |
as has been described and fer the purposes set |
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OFee--To all persons 10 |
tch011 thssspyesenfs shall come creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofthis Office Of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued |
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen |
hundred and ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com |
missioner Of Patents, have caused the |
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto |
affixed this twenty-ifth day OF August,
lL's 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight huzlred and ffy-four, and Of the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. @. MASON
Ertraa from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
aotieh letters pafsnf issued ARgHst q, 1854
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of gas apparatus or stlll,
co insisting OF metallic OF other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcstion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be asesrtained from
the records OF the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.