Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-28
Stlisfkllane9as.


TIE II known that L, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December 1921, lor
an apparatus for the destructive dlstlliaiion OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch al
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 withoul inlrihe-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuily belongs 10 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 10 pe
patentabe 10 the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said ONCE, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy Of his clams,
In the National Litelligemcer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the aexclusive 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 oil December
1851, and how far the threat can ntimdate 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 to Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the exclusive 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.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August %, 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
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 MIN
or them "theerclustve right of making gas from
tcood' 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. d. Porters
claims are believed TO be C mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this ohiee is not aware tnai
patent has been granted heretofore for the ereit-
sire right of making gas from 1ro0d II would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. Mason, Commissioners OF Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI, Esqa
Care Of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, D. ..
The United States Patent OTfce--To all persons 10
sghona these presents shall come, grating
This is TO 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. d. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and filly-four.
In testimony whereof, / Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
IL. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hfty-
four and of the independence ofthe United
States the seventy ninth. e.. MASON.
Corn of disclaimer of " d. Porter tn has a1Piica.
ftou for " an improved still for making soood
gas, fleS Aagna s, 1854. Lsftsrs patent issued
-dsss ast %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subjeciing the products of destructive disiilaton
thereirom 10 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 OEec-To all persons 10
tcAo1a IeseprsseHts shall come creating:
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 ifiy-four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
r, affixed this twenty-6fth day OF August
IL 81 in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and of the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. Z. MASON
E11rac from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
tohich letters patent tceye issned august o. 1854
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
co consisting of metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones Z and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ei6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Ofice TO which all have
access.
WIN p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. c. PAGE.