Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-10
WOOD CAs.-CAUTION.

/ &<ttt WOOD GASs-CAUvlONs rW
DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'd tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillalion OF
wood, and the making thercfrom oftar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas; and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. D. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing nv said patent. And, further, that what is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me,
as l expect 10 prove ere long before tho United
States Patent OHice and, further, that the uso OF
said PoSter's inveatiOn involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
patentablc TO the 6rst inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed ~ sp-
ipears upon the public records of said ONCE, Of
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy Of his claims. K
Mr.. Porter announces that he, has secured by
patent the "exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 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 intimidatc under
such circumstancess Mr.. Portcr's claim ID based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
30 understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of tho Patent Office that his
claim was at 6rsi refused A. interfering with 4
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance This claim, As given be-
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 Once
If such claim right had been granted, II would
forbid every coai-kiln and charcoal manuiactory
IN the country. EssE3 afl tt
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Oicc will
show the true state of the case
UNIrES SrATKs PArKsT OYrIcx, f
Axgua IS, 1854
SIR In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
IF any patent has bee been granted TO ". u Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them g hs exclusive right Of making gas Jrom
rood" 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, furihcr, this Office is not aware that q
patent has been granted heretofore for the sselI-
ssOe rtght of l1akInE gas J'0n SoSd II would,
however, be unjust6able to expect me to make
an extended iRyestgaton 70 answer your re-
quest.
lam, respectfully, your obedient servant
C. MAso~, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care Of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United State, Patent OHes-Ts aH ysrsons to
This is to certify that the annexed is truo copy
from the files of this once 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 tho 22d 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 10 he hereunto affixed
H.. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6fty-
four, and of the Independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. c. Mason.
Copy of diselainser Of W. d. Porter in his spyliea.
t,on for an iasyrooed stiH for waking GOOD
gas, fLed Angnst S, 1854. Lsttsrs patent isss~d
AH4nsf 22, 1854. eN
"I do not claim M my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subectng the products Of destructive distillation
thcreirom 10 q high degree of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. P. Mcconnell" Na
The United Stases Patent OGes-To al ysrsoas to
whom thsss prsssnfs shaN come grsasng:
This is TO certify that the annexed 10 true copy
from the records Of this ofkce Of an extract from
the specifications of w. D. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred aud 6fly-lour.
In testimony whereof. 4, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the PaieAt Office TO be hereunio
:, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
n the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. c. MASON
Eazrset from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
schieh Lsffs,s pafsnt issnsl Angnsf % 1854.
CIAM-What claim A. my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
The construction Of . gas apparatus or still,
consisting ef q metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be sscertained from
access.
WIN. p MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE. e