Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-07
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
J 1t known that 4, the subscriber OBJ

II Il KNOWN tnal tie suDsCIhuCI W.
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, 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 oi
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person wlthout infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 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 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF SAID once, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed ana Also
a copy Of his claims
In the National Iateuigencer of the 2oth instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood,n 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 intmdate under
such circumstances! Mr.. Porters claim Is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
understood by the Patent Office, as II appears
from the records OF the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivancc. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm Is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdiiy on It's 'front.' and
il libel on the good sense OF the Patent once
If such claim right had been granted It would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted TO W. u. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "Me ezciatsiue right of making gas from
iyood," 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. D. Porter's
claims are believed to be c mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezcln-
size right of making gas from acosd. II would,
however, be unlustifable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, u. =.
The United States Patent Office To all persons TO
ashonl these presents shall come gretins:
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office OF an extract from
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August
eighteen hundred and fifly-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com,
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 bs hereunto affixed
L. 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 ninth. 4. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter IN his appiica
tion for an improved still for making toood
gas, FLED august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
AuguSt22, 1854.
" ! do not claim as my Invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subjecting the products of destructive distilauon
therefrom 10 a high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification of W. p. Mcconnell"
Tzs United States Patent Ofce-Io all persons 10
tohom these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of W. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and flty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:. affixed this twenty-hhh day OF August,
IL 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifiy-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seyenty-ninth. c. Mason.
Ez1raet from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,chieh letters patent acere issued Angna %, 1854.
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Z and ID, daphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertnined from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.