Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-01
MisfAIaMf0Ms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
! "A -. --.~.i 49, Al. a ex.Y.n Z. ~

DE ft known that i, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1921, for
an apparatus for The destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas !; and that in the Judgment OF
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
pateutsdby said Porter rightfuly belongs to me,
as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Olice 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
patentabIe 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records of said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims. M stt ft F
In the National bteligsncey 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 j ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent OF December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimldate under
such circumstances? Mr. Porters 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
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrvance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
u
the aexclusive right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on It's front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. 98 fifg{r 2
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Once VIII
show the true state Of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1884.
SIR. In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
elf any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them " the exclusive right Of making gas from
fcood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for apatent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date you are informed that w. D. Porer's
claims are believed to be c mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the szcln-
sivs right Of making gas from tcosd II would,
however, be unjustifabe TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
/ am, respectfully, your obedent servant
C. MASON Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCCoNAELL, ESQ.,,
Care Of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, ID. Q.
The U,,ited STATES Patent ORce-- To al persons 10
lcsoDs these presents shall come, grztng
This is 10 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 w. ID. Porter on the I'D 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
II. 81 this 18th 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. G. Mason
Copy Of disclaimer Of W. d. Porter iH has Grpiioa.,
fion for "an improred still for making ac0od
gas filed AEgast 5, 1854. Lettsrs patent tssued
AHgnSt22 1854.
g / do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz:
subiecting the products Of destructive distilation
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 0Gos-- To all persons 10
ichom hesepyeseats shall come creating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records this Office Of an extract from
the specification OF w. ID. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffiy-four
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:. affixed this tweniy-ffth day OF August,
IL 81 in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and Of the
Independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MASON
Ea1root from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
aojtich Eetsrs pafsnf tcere issEed August % 1884
CLAIM.--What claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of gas apparatus OF still,
consisting of metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ci6caton, aud shown in the accompanying draw
ings" M
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
r BY his attorney CHAs. @. PAGE.