Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-21
AlisftLlaneGas.
WOOD CAs.-CAUTTON.

N known that /, the subscriber oh
II tanned letters patent in December, 1891, Tor
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation Oh
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pilch al
pleasure and gas and that in the Judgment oi
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by W.D. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person wilhout ihtrine
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfuily belongs 70 me,
as I expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and further, that the use OF
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United STATES
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged 10 DC
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally discaimed -as ap-
pears upon the public records of said once, oi
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Iatelligencey of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces thai he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood,n 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 intimidaie under
such circumstances Mr.. Porters claim Is based
upon 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
prior patent to Robert Fouls, OF Canada, LOT an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the sexclusive 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 Omce;
If such claim or right had been granted, IT would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Oice 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 10 w. u. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 MIN
or them the erclsssive right of making gas from
sooodn 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 eretu-
sire right of making gas from fcosd. 1t would,
however be unjusti6able 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. MCCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof C. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent Ogce- To all persons to
ach0ns these presents shall come grettng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the-iles Of this Office of an extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application OF w.
ID. 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 fifty-fonr
4 In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
H. 81 this 25th day Of August in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffiy-
four, and ofthe independence ofthe United
States the seventy-nintb. y. MASON
COM Of 6iselairuer of w d. Porter i,s has applica
ton for an improved std for making acood
gas fied August S, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augnst22, 1854.
"I do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subiecting the products OF destructive distilauon
therefrom 10 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 OGce-To all persons TO
tchonl these presents shall come, greeting;
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office Of an extract from
the specification Of w. d. Porters 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
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August
H. 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and of the
Independence Of the United States the
seyenty-nfnth. G. Mason.
Ez1raa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,ciet letters patent tcere issued august % 1854,
CIAIM.-What 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 E and D. diaphram plate g, and exit pipe
F. substantially AS described in the foregoing spe-
ei6caiion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings." 4tsi
The truth the above may beascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE. :,