Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-30
HIisftIlaMt0Ms.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
Il Hnoxu,, that T. the subsCri

DE it Known tnats i, tie suDsCripCI oc-
ID tanned letters patenrin December, 1891, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pltch az
pleasure and gas and that in the Judgment Oh
competent persons the invention OIL an aPpar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
ing my said patent. And. further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfuly belongs TO me,
as j expect 10 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
patentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discalmed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said once, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Iqtelligencer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. l ask how TINS statement
comports with the fact of my patent OF December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? MIR. Porters claim Is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as 1t appears
from the records Of the Patent once that MS
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance, This claim, as given be-
low, aud 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 its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
II such claim right had been granted, II would
forbid every coai-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent once VIII
show the true state Of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
{" if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
to any other person or persons securing TO him
or them the srcltsipe right of making gas from
acoodn and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. u. Porters
claims are believed to be mined TO his appara-
rus and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the e1eiat
size right of making gas from 1rosd 1t would,
however, be unjusti6able TO expect me to make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest
/ am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents
w. P. MCCONNELL Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G.. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United States Patena OGee--1o all persons 10
lohom these presents shall come grettng
This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office of an extract from a
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. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
H. ST. this 25th day Of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6fiy-
four and of the independence ofthe United
States the seventy G. Mason.
Corn of disclaimer of w d. Porter IN has appiica.
tion for AN improved stiH for making tcood
gas,n fled August S, 1854 LetterS patent issued
Augusta, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subectins the products Of 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 Patent O@cs-To all persons to
tvhoDa these preSs1ltS shall come creating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification OF w. ID. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ff1y-iour.
In testimony whereof, l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-fifth day OF August,
lL 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and hityfouri and OF tne
independence Of the United States the
seyenty-ninth. G. Mason
Erzract from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
,otieh letters patent tcere issued August %, 1854.
CLAIM-What claim my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction OF a gas apparatus or still,
co onsistipg OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe.
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth OF the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.