Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-14
MisrsIlanknns..
s WOOD GAS.--CAUTION.
n n kuaxUu that II the aTbac RI

Il 7 w
DE It known that i, the subscriber OBJ
| Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, fol
an apparatus for the destructive distilation o.
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment o
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 Is
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 a process
which am claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentabe to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. 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. aA
In the National Esneligencsr of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 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 intimdate under
such crcumstancesg Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with q
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivancc This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the ssexclusive right TO making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
IF such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coalkiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office viii
show the true state of the case:
9t;s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
AugnS IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
g 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 "Lse ezclnsirs right Of making gas from
s10od," 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. Porter's
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 ezclat
siue right of making gas from scosd II would,
however, be unjustfable to expect me TO make
quest.
am, respectfully your obedient servant,
sag c. Mason Commissioner Of Patents.
w. P. McCoNAKLI., Esq. ..,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington d. G,
The United States Patent Oaee--7o all persons 10
,chom these presents shall come, greting
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.
d. Porter for letters patent in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said ID. Porter on the 22d day of August
eighteen hundred and fifty-four. $50 s
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office to 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. c. Mason.
Copy of Disclaimer Of w D. Porter in his a1,plea.
tion for "an improved stU for making arood
gas nJfled Aagna 5, 1854 Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz:
subjecting 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 United STATES Patent O6ee-To all persons 10
1rhoD, fhssepresents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
the specification Of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ifly-four
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Mason, Com.
si. : missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
:, :, affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August
H. 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and of the
independence of the United States the
seventy ninth. C.MAsoN.
Eztraot J1ons Specification of w. ID. Porter on
schich letters patent issued Angnst %, 1854
CLAIMs-What claim my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is: X
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still
CO onsisting of metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones and d, daphram plate 9, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cification, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings." 4 it
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, to which all have
access. M! n.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.