Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-19
WOOD GAs-CAUTIoN.


Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus tor the destructive distilaton OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
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 infrng
ing my said patent. And, further, that what is
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs TO me-
as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Ofice and further, that the of
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which hasbeen adjudged to be
patenable 10 the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, as APP
pears 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 Iateltge,lcer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces thaiIhe has secured by
patent the exclusive right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, 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, for an
equivalent conirivance. 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 Office
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coa-kiln and charcoal mandatory
an the country
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records ofthe Patent Office will
show the true state OF the ease: a..sf
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
august %, 1854.
SIR In reDly 10 vOur latter q this date. king
g if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them The ezclzasiue right Of making gas from
soood" 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 informed that w. ID. Porier's
claims are believed to be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware That
patent has been granted heretofore for the eaciu
Size rigA1 Of making gas from aco0d II would,
however, be unjusli6able TO expect me to make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. F. McCoNAELI. Esq,
Care of Prof, G. G.. Page, Washington, ID. G.
Tie United States Patent OGee-To all persons to
tctom these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of this Office of extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application OF w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffiy-our.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL. s.. this 25th day Of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6fy-
four, and the Independence of the United
States the seventy-nlni c. Mason.
fion for "an Improved still for making toood
gas filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August22, 1854.
a do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products of destructive dstllation
Iherefrom 10 a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
Iorth in the specification Of w. p Mcconnell"
Tie Unned States Patent Office To all persons to
tchom these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is n true copy
from the records OF This Office of an extract from
he specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second 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 this twenty.fth day OF August,
y n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy ninth. G. MASON
Ezzraet from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
rchieA letters patent issued August % 1854.
CLAIM.-What / claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
The construction OF gas apparatus or still,
20 insisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe
and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs."
The truth ofthe above maySe ascertained from
The records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.