Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-30
sas[isfeIlanf0uS
WOOD GAs.-cAUTION.
a K-....r 49, ~, q ..,I.ao..t

DE it known that T., the subscriber OBJ
| lid tanned letters patent in December, 1871, for
an apparatus for the destructive distlaton oi
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment ol
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
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs 20 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 a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged TO be
patentabe 10 the Grst inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, 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 stl
In the National Irtelligsncer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the g 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 of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Poriers 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 a
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragmi is the
the 'exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coa-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records ofthe Patent Office will
show the true state Of the case
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE
Augun 25, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
"if any patent has been granted TO w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1884, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them "the heerclssstve rigLtef making gas from
iooodn and whether any such claim was made by
w d. Porter, under his application for patent,
above date, yot are informed that w. ID. Portsrs
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 szctu-
sive rfgu Of making gas from acosd II would,
however, be unjustifable 70 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C.. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents.
W. p. McCoSAELL, ESQ.,
!, Care Of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
TIE United States Patent CGee-Io all persons t0
sghons tbsse presents shall come, grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue 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 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fffy-four. ~
In testimony whereof /. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Paients, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
L. s. this 23th day Of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hfty-
four, and ofthe independence Of the United
States the seventy-nintb. c. Mason.
Com of disclaimer of w d. Porter IN his applica.
tioa for an Improved still for making lcood
gas, FLED august s. 1854. Letfers patent issued
August %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the productsof destructive distillaton
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
TIE United States Pattnt Office To all parsons to
1chogi thsseprese,rs shall come creating;
This is TO certify that the annexed isa true copy
from the records OF this Office of extract from
the specification of W. ID. Porters patent issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Pntent Office TO be hereunto
H. s. ~ ,hs wear lof our Iord one ,bousand
eight hundred and fiiy-four, and Of the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth G. MASON.
Ez4yact from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
4chich letters patent asere issHed AHgusf 90 1854
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones L and ID, diaphram plate G., and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6cation, and shown IN the accompanying draw
ngs." Ntf tra
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.