Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-24
MisfeIlaMEGas.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

| n tanned letters patent in December, 1901, ior
an apparatus for the destructive distiliation OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pltcn az
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment Of
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without hiring
ing nv said patent And, further, that what fs
patented by said Porter rightiully belongs 10 me
as expect TO prove ere long before me unilea
States Patent Office and, further, that the use OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming beferethe United Stales
Patent Office and which has been adJudged TO be
patentable to the first inventor thereoi ana Whlch
said w. d. Porter has formally dlsciaimea, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF sald once, .,s o.
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, ana aiso
a copy Of his claims
In the Natsond Iaselzigescer Of Ne 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured oy
patent the "exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 an par.'es
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. Porters claim - paseo
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Once as II appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with q
prior patent to Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, aud in which the perforated diaphragm Is Inc
"a wing clause. is what Mr. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
il a libel on the good sense of the Patent Once.
If SUCH claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kln and charcoal mnnufactory
in the country.
extracts from the records OF the Patent Omce WIN
show the true state Of the case:
-.l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
Sir. In reply 10 your letter OF this date asking
"if any patent has been granted TO W. u. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO MIN
or them The eaclnstpe right of making gasJroz
acooan and whether any such claim was made oy
w. D. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing inc
above date, you are informed that w. u. Porters
claims are believed to be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
psteut has been granted heretofore for the ercl1t
ssss ytgit of making gas from tcosd Il would
however be unustihable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest ,.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. MASON Commissioner Of Patents.
W. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. Z.
The United States Patent OGee-To all persons 10
achozr these presents shall come, grating
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office Of an extract from
yaper fled in the matter Of the application OF w.
b. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent Were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d 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 10 be hereunto a1ixed
IL. ST. this 25th day Of August in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffiy-
four, and ofth independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. Z. MASON.
cOpy of Siselai,uer of w d. Porter IN his appiica..
fion for "an improved fftl for mating toooa
gas fled Angna 5, 1854. Letters patent issHed
AHgNs22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subjecting the products Of destructive distlllauon
therefrom 10 q 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 QFce--T5 all persons 10
.ctoDs thsse presents shall come creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office OF an extract from
on the twenty second day Of August eighteen
hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
s'missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty fifth day OF August
IL 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty.four and Of the
independence Of the United States the
seyenty-ninth. G. Mason.
Ea4rat from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
,ohieh ksssys pafenf tcere issnsd august ~, 1854
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of gas apparatus or siiii,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b. the
cones E and d, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
r substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cihcsti6n, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe abeve may be asceriained from
the records OF the Patent Once, TO which all have
" WIN. p MCCONNELL,
a ffi-F Rv his attorney CIIAS. @. PAGE.