Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-18
ggisffIlaMt0ns.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
II known that i, the subscril

TIE II known that i, the subscriber OBJ
IJ tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distlllation OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas ; and that in the judgment Of
competent persons the invention of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrlng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs TO me,
as / 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 TO be
patentabe to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap.
pears upon the public records of said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National Lltelligencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 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 intimidaie under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from he records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior parent 10 Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for
equivalent contrvance. This claim, as given be-
low, and 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 Ofice.
IL such 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 Office 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
tif any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, Or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them "Me exclusive right Of making gas from
scoodn 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. u. Porters
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eTcin-
sive right of making gas from acosd. 1t would,
however be unjustifable TO expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. McCorAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United STATES Patent 0Gee-To all persons 10
qchons ltsss presents shall come, grettng !:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from
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. d. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred aud ffty-four
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IT, 81 this 25th day Of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ifiy-
c.. I.xftb ind. nan nsIano nff fhaI ITnfa
States the seventy-nintb. c. Mason.
COM of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his appiica.
ton for an improved sfiH for making soood
gas, fied Augnst s, 1854. Letters patent issued
AaguSt2 %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive dstillation
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 Ofes-I5 all persons 10
sohons hsse presents shall come creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is 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 fifty-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
r, =, affixed this twenty-6fth day OF August,
IL 81 in The year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fAy-four, and of the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MASON.
Ez1racf from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,shict letters patent acre issHsd august %, 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 a metallic OF other cylinder b, the
cones e and d. diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.