Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-27
MiseEIIaMf0Ms.
WOOD GAs.-CAuTIoN.


WOOD CAS.-CAUTION.
DE II known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, fol
an apparatus for the destructive distilation Of
wood, and the making therefrom oftar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment o
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without inffng.
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfnlly belongs TO me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use OF
said Pofter's invention involves also aprocess
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
patentable,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
In the National Iiteligsneey of the, 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. / ask how this statement
comports wiiht the fact ofmy patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstancesa Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood blythe Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with a
prior patentsto 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 MIR. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right TO making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdity on its 'front.' and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Oaice.
If such claim right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. ne9 I9'3@ od E9sRa shA 3R
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case:
Fsaa "a UNITED STATES PATENT OPFIcE,
AvgnSt 25, 1854.
SfR. In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
/" il any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Potter
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
or them "thserclusiuc right Of making gas from
1cood" 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 to be c mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the erelu-
sipe right of making gas from acosd. II would,
however, be unjustifabie to expect me TO make
an extended Investigation TO answer your re-
quest. ~ sf lla "a g6s5 ,gIa
\ am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
N G.. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
( w. p. McCoNAELI., Esq,
q Care Of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The U,atsd States Patent Odfce-7o all persons TO
pchom these presents shall come, greting:
This is 10 certify that the annexedis 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 niaccofdance with
which application letters patent were Issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
leighteeuihundred and ffyfour. +si9i r.
In testimony Whereof i. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he hercuhto affixed
H. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6iiy-
four, and Of the independence Of the United
States the seventy-nintb. G. Mason,
Copy Of discldimer of W. d. Porter ia his applicas
tioa for ssGa improved stiH for making 4cOod
gas fIsd Augitst 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August -, 1854. 5srp ~ esaI a
|" do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjectng the products Of destructive distlation
therefrom TO high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. p. Mcconnell
TIE Unisd STATES Patsaf Qfce-- To all PERSONS to
sch0m these presents shall come greeting:
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 6Ay-four.
In Testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
3 e missioner Of Patents, have caused the
I5 seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
Il, 49,, ahixed, this iwenty-fflh day Of August,
Isl in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and of the
Independence OF the United States the
sevenfy-ninth. Ans O. MASON. ~
Ezzract from, Specification of w. ID. Poner on
icisicll istsrs patent tccre issned Aagaa % 1854
CLKIM.--Whatf I claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is sJssl
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still
co insisting of a metallic or other cylinder B, The
cones and ID, daphram plate G., and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.p ,ifirr3I ai teH
The truth Of the absve may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY bis attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.