Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-02
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

4 ii , IL kMOWn that TIC suDsCKIUCE OD-
ID tanned letters patent IN December 1901, ioI
an apparatus for the destructive distillaon o
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch al
| 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 without infrng-
| ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
palented by said Porter rightfully 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 a process
| which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclamed, as ap-
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 Lateltgencsy Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "excusive 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm and was
so understood by the Patent Office, il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim at first refused interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, 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. I"
The statement carries absurdliy its front and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, ii would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manuiactory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFicE,
august 25 1854.
SIR. In reDIy 10 vour latter of this date asking
If any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854, at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them :" THE exclusive right Of making gas from
acood, 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. Porer's
claims believed TO be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, ,ufurther, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercia-
sue right Of making gas from wosd ltwould,
however, be unJusti6able 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 q. G, Page, Washington, ID. C.
The United States Patent OGee-To all persons 10
whona these presents shall come, gyettng:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
ifoih tue Hics vi tUlS OuiCc Oi an tAtTdcl HOiH
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he 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 of the United
States the seventy ynntb. G, MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter has applica.
tion for :" an Improved stW for making aoood
gas, filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Angust22, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
spbjectng the products of destructive distation
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
The United States Patent O6foe-To all persons 10
tchom thesepreSsnts shall cons greeting:
This is 10 certify that the anne xed is true copy
from the records ofthis Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Pouer's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
r, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifiy-four and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MASON.
Eaarac from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
scjioh letters patent acre issued august %, 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 ID, diaphram plate c, 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 ascertained from
the records of The Patent Office, 10 which all have
access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.