Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-28
''YisfeIlaMs0as.
WOOD GAs.---CAuTToN.

TIE Il known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent In December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making theretrom Of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment OF
Competent persons the invehtion Of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. D 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 rightfully belongs 70 me,
a. expect 70 prove ere long before the United
said Porter's Invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
patentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. D. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records Of said Office, Of
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy of his claims.
Mr.. PorteF iaiHJu hHsegi fsaefz Of the 25ullustan
patent the exclusive right 70 making gas from
wood p and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent ask how this statement
COMFORTS with the fact of my patent Of December,
1851. and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Forters claim is based
upon q movable perforated diaphragm, and was
40 understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records Of the Hatent Office that his
claim was at first refused las interfering with
prior patent to Robert FonHs, Of Canada lot an
low and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on It's front, and
is libel on the good sensk Of the Patent Oice:
If such claim or right had been granted, 4 would
forbid every coai-kiln and charcoal mandatory
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of lhe case:
USrrxD SfArRs PATENT OsFIcE,
eE Angua IS, 1854.
c,. Tn ray,lx, ~, vouJ letter of this date asking
elf any patent has beet granted TO W. u. Porter
dated Bed August, 1854 or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 70 MIN
or them the szcsssivs right Of making gas from
qcoodn and whether any such claim was made by
W. ID. Porter, under bis application for patent,
| which letters patent were lssued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. u, Porter's
claims are believed u be G mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, thb Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezcli
sipe right of making gas from tcosd. II would,
however be unjust6able TO expect me 10 make
an extended Investigation TO answer your re-
= / am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
c. MAsoS Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. McCoNAxLL Esq,
Tzs United States Patent Orc To all parsons to
schogs these presents shall come, gretfzig n y
This is to certifythat the annexed Is atrue copy
from the files of this Office Of an extract from
paper fled in the matter of the applications 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 ffty-four
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
| of, the Patent Office to be hereunto affixed
H. 81 this 25th day Of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and City.
| four, and Of the Independence of the United
States the seveniy-nintb. @. Mason.
Coma of ;scla;vsry of W. d. Porter in has oppliea.
fios for an iz1proped stiH for making good
gas fle8 4ssust5 s, 1854. Letters patent fssaed
August %, 1854. vi ~ qg sia
at do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ;
subjecfing the products OF destructive distillaton
therefrom TO high degree Of heat, substantially
az has been Described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The Uni.ed Statss Patsa O@ee-- To all persons 70
,ohom fAsssprssenfs shall come greeting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
| from the records ofthis Office of extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porer's patent, issued
ON the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fhy-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal or the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
!. affixed this twcnty-6hh day Of August,
lLsl In the year Of our Lord one thousand
e eight hundred and ffy1our, and Of the
Independence of the United States the
scventy-ninth. G. MAsoN.
Eazraa from SPECIFICATION of W. ID. Porter on
schich kfsrs patent scers issncd August % 1854.
CLAIM--Whst 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 ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ciScstion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.D .ae
| The truth ofthe abevemay be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
7- WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.