Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-27
S1lisrtIlanfGMs.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

TIE II known that L, the subscriber OBJ
| Id tanned letters patent IN December, 1921, lor
an apparatus for the destructive distlliauon Oh
| wood and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch az
| pleasure and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannon be
used by him or any other person without lnirihg
ing my said patent And, further, thai what is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
as ! expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use oi
said Porter's invention involves also process
which | am now claiming before the United states
Patent Office, and which has been adIudged 10 DC
patentable 10 the first lnvenlor't thereof and which
said W. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
bpears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
| a copy Of his claims.
In the National Llteligencer of the 23th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured oy
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 ntimidate under
such circumstances Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records of the Patent Once that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance This claim, given be-
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 abeurdity on Its front, ana
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent once.
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kln and charcoal manufactory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Omce VIII
show the true state OF the case;
&. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIR In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
g 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 10 MN
or them " The srclatsiue right Of making gas from
mood" and whether any such claim was made py
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date you are informed that w. ID. Porters
claims are believed TO be mined 10 his appara-
lus; and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erelu-
st,e right of making gas from Doed II would,
however, be unjusti6able 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner OF Patents
w. P. MoCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent ORce--To all persons TO
-aohon1 these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 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 oi w.
ID. 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 fftyiour.
In testimony whereof |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
H. ST. this 23th day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty,
four, and Of the independence ofthe United
States the seventynntb. " MASON
Copy Of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter IN has appfica.
tion for an impr2ped stiH for making acood
gas" fled August S, 1854. Letters patent issued
August p, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz;
subiectng the products Of destructive dstillation
therefrom 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 Patsm O6fee-7o all persons TO
,vho1t tkesepfeSents shall come greeting:
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. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August eighteen
hundred and fhy-fo
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-fnh day OF August,
IL 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and f1y-four and of the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Extract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tohieh letters pafsnt tcere issued august %, 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 insisting OF a metallic OF other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth of the above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.