Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-31
MisffIlanE0ns.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

nE 1t known that ], the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1891, ior
an apparatus for the destructive dlstillatlon OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or p'tch a.
competent persons the invention Of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID, Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without lntring-
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 aud, 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 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclalmed, as ap-
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 Intelzigsneer 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II 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, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving CiduSe, Is WHdt MI IoTtcf CdhS scSuiihe
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 Ostce.
If such claim or right had been granted II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
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 10 your letter of this date, asking
(" if any patent has been sranted TO 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 ercl,esive right Of making gas from
,oood" and whether any such Claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent We're 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 erciu
sipe right Of making gas from fcosd II would,
however, be nnjusiifabe 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 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.
The United States Patent OGce-To all persons TO
achons these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is trne 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 accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fftyiour.
In testimony Whereof / Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
f. s. this 25lh day Of August, IN the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fly,
four, and of the independence Of the Unitedl \
States the seventy ninth. G. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of W. d. Porter in his applica.
ton for "an improved sfiH for MAKING rood
gas FLED August S, 1854. Lstters patena issued
August % 1854.
I" do not claim my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjectng the products Of destructive dstillation
theretrom 10 a 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 Office To all persons 10
tch0m heseprsSents shall come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of W. D. Porter'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
H. 81 IN The wear of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and y.four, and Of the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. g. MASON
Eztraa from Specification Of W. d. Porter on
tohich letters patent issued AHgust q, 1854.
CIAIM-What l claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones z and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. P. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.