Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-01
MisffIlaMf0ms
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE 1t known that j, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1891, fol
an apparatus for the destructive distillation 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. ID. 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 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. ID. Porter has formally disclamed, as ap-
pears upon the public records of said Office, Of
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy Of his claims.
In the National IateAigencer 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 intlmidate under
such circumstances? Mr. Porters claim is based
upon a 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 a
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, ana In W0lcn tnc peTIOTuleu Is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the Exclusive right 10 making gas from wood. "
The statement carries absurdity on It's 'front.' and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Oiice.
Ifsuch claim or right had been granted it would
forbid every coa-kn 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,
august 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
{" 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 10 him
or Them (" the erclnsipe right Of making gas from
mood 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. d. Porer's
claims are believed 10 be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercln-
size right Of making gas from arosd. II would,
however, be unjustifable to expect me to make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G. Page, Washington, D. C.
Tile United States Patent O6fce-To all PERSONS TO
This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office Of an extract from a
paper fled 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 D. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and 6fty-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL. S this 25th day Of August, in the year of our
n - L. L., -.
four, and ofthe independence Of the United
States the seveniy-nintb. G. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of W. d. Porter in his applica.
fion for "an improrea StW for making tcood
gas, fled August 5, 1854. LeHers 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 distilaton
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 O6ce--7o all persons to
qctont these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records oftbis Office of an extract from
the specification OF w. ID. Porer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason Com.
missioner Of Patents. have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
>. affixed this twenty-fflh day OF August,
lh 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. G. MASON
Eaaract from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
4cliich letters pafsnt tcere issued august % 1854
CLAIN.-Whst claim my invention and de.
sire to secure by letters patent is:
THE construction of n gas apparatus or still,
al. ,l.1z L.
cones T. and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in The foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs.n
The truth OF the above may be ascertained from
the records OF the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS g. PAGE.