Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-08
MistfllaMfGas.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

.e WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE Il known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons s the invention of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without intring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what rs
patented by said Porter righifully belongs to me,
| 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
patentable 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
copy OF his claims
In the National Iufelligencer 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? MIR. 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 a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent COntrlVduCc. MS Cdiui, us given uC-
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 absurdny on lis front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Ofice.
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-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,
"f august 25, 1854.
. SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
s.f any patent has been granted TO W. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person persons, securing TO him
or them " the erciatsive right Of making gas from
aDood," 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 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the e1clu-
however, be unjustifiable TO expect me to make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C.MAsoN, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington d. G.
The United States Patent OGee--I0 all persons 10
schopl 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 fled in the matter of the application OF w.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
sElr Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
II. s this 25th day of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
q four, and of the Independence ofthe United
States the seventy-nintb. c. Mason.
Com of aiscainser or W. d. Porter "a, his appliea.
lion for "an improped still for making rcood
gas fled august 5, 1851. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
g do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz: F:
sublecting the products of destructive dstlllauon
therefrom to a high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. p Mcconnell"
The United STATES Patent OGee-To all persons 10
trlosa these presents shall come grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty -four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
tr, seal OF the Patent Office to be hereunto
affixed this twenty-fifih day of August,
u 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand
80 be- eight hundred and fifty -four, and of the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. e. Mason.
Ezaraet from, Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
.rhieh Lttsrs patent acre issued AngUa %, 1854.
CLAIx.--What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction of a gas apparatus or STILL
co insisting OF a metallic other cylinder Il, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcsiion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS, G. PAGE.