Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-21
WOOD GAs.-CAuTIoN.

DE it known that 4, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent In December, 1891, Tor
an apparatus for the destructive distilaton 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 lnfrlng-
ing nv said patent And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightiully belongs 10 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 adIudged TO be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally dsclaimed, 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 Natipnal InteHigencer of the 25th lnstan,
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the 'iexclusive right 10 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 intmldate under
such circumstances Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon 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 al first refused interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert Fous, of Canada for an
equivalent contrivance. 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 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdy on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Once
If such claim right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-liln and charcoal manufactory
IN the county
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augua 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
" if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them tie erciusiUe right Of making gas from
acood," 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined TO his appara-
tus; aud further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erct1-
SiUe right Of making gas from acoed IL would,
however, be unjusliiable 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. McCoNAELL. Esq,
Care of Prof. G.. G.. Page, Washington, d. G.
Tie United States Patent Ofce-To all persons 10
schom these presents shall come, grazing:
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue 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. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fifly-iour.
In testimony whereof, l. 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 fifty
four and of the independence ofthe United
States the seventy-nintb G. MASON.
COPY Of disclaimer Of w d. Porter ia his applica.
ton for an Improved StiH for making tcood
gas" fled august 5, 1854. Letters patent ISSUED
AUGUSTA, 1884.
:" do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecling the products of destructive distlaton
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"
TRe Uaited States Patent O6fce-To all persons 70
rohonr hiesepresents shall come greeting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records ofthis Office of an extract from
the specification of w. d. Porer's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and tifty-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
- n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. Q. MASON.
Earract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
1cjtich letters patent issued august y, 1854
CLAIM.-What | claim as my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones + and d. diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.
ssDOOR'S RAILROAD MAP or THE
UNITED sTATES.v-Ths ceebra-
ted Map, recently eulogzed by Lieutenant Mau-