Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-29
MisffIlaMfgms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION'
"a g-.. 49, n 4I. = ~..l.ur :.

ii n ~ knOWu that ls TIC cuD5CttDcA ou-
I'D tanned letters patent in December 1921, Tor
an apparatus for the destructive distillatlon OF
wood, and the making therefrom of taror pitch at
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 infring-
ing my said patent And~ further, that what is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 70 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 be
pafentable to the first inventor thereo and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disciaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, Of
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy Of his claims. y
In the National I,ateligencsr Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the aexciusive right 70 making gas from
wood, and threatens prosecution 20 all parties
infringing his patent. i ask how this statement
comporls with the fact OF my patent of December,
1851 and how far the threat can intilnidaie under
snch circumstances2 Mr.. Porter's claim IS based
upon a 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, Tor an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragmis the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
If such a claim or right had been granted, itwould
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Ofce 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
ssif any patent has been granted to w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons securing to him
or them {" "Mee7siasiUe right of making gas from
rood 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. Porter's
claims are believed TO be c mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ereln
sire right Of making gas fran aro0d II would,
however, be unj1siifable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
c. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MccoSAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patea OGics--Io all persons 10
qchoDs these 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 to the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fiftyIour.
In testimony Whereof Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL 81 this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6fy-
four, and ofthe independence ofthe United
States the seyenty-ninib. c. Mason.
Copy of diseiaimerof W. ID, Porter in has appliea.
tion for aass improvsd StiH for making GOOD
gas flsd august 5, 1884, Letters patent issued
AKgstst22, 1854
al do not claim as my intention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subiecting the products of destructive distlation
therefrom TO a high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification q w. T. Mcconnell"
TIE United States Patent OGec-- To all persons to
sclom these presents $hGH come gveeting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office Of extract from
the specification OF w. II Porer's patent, issued
on the twenty second dhy Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffly-four.
In testimony whereoflI, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of P4tents, have caused The
seal OF the Pateit Office 10 be hereunto
r, affixed this twehty-ffth day OF August,
- - IN the year oil fur Lord one thousand
eight hundred add 6iiy-four, and Of the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-nnth. @. MASON
Er4yaet from Specification Of W. d. Porter on
qchich letters patent scere Issued Augna % 1854.
CLArm.-What | claim Is my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction OF a gas apparatus or still,
consisting of metallic Or other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertaned from
the records Of the Patent Office TO which all have
access.
WMl r. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. O. PAGE.