Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-06
WOOD GAs.rCAuTIoN.


DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
| ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive distillation 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 any other person without iniring-
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 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, APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National InteLsgencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive 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 intimldate under
such circumstances Mr. Porters claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with a
prior pateul TO Robert FOULS, of Canada, Tor an
equivalent contrvance. This claim given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
wing clause what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the Exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdiiy on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
IF such claim right had been granted, IL would
forbid every coa-kin and charcoal manuiactory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Office VIII
show the true state of the ease
UNITEH STATES PATENT OFSicE,
dugusl 25, 1854.
SIR. IA reply TO your letter of this date. asking
'sif any patent has been granted to w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time. or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them . the erriasivs right Of makiig gas tronp
icood," and whether any such claim made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for a patent,
which letters patent were ISSUED bearing the
above date you informed that w. ID. Porers
claims are believed to be mined TO his appara-
tus; aud, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the erelu
size right of making gas from aoD1d |, would
however, be uniusti6able TO expect me 10 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, ID. G.
TIE U,sited States Patent O6fce-To al gers0,lS to
achoRs hiese preSe,us shall come greting
from the files OF this Office of an extract from a
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. ID. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fiiy-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
H. S. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nlntb. G. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter IN his dppiica.
tion for San improved StH for making scood
gas filed august 5, 1854 Letters patent tssned
august %, 1854.
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distilation
thereirom TO a high degree of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The U1aited States Patent OEce-To all persons to-
tchom these 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. d. Porters 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-ffth day OF August,
: - 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.
Errract from Specification Of W. d. Porter on
tchich letters patent tcers issued 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 or other cylinder b. the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
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. 6. PAGE.