Washington sentinel., 1855-03-09
WOOD GAs.-CAUTTON.

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. d. Porter cannot be
ing my said patent. And further, that what is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO 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
patentabe TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy rs hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National InteAi geHesy of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right TO 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. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO understood by the Patent Office, II appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was AT Gssi refused interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for
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 TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdiiy on its front and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Ofice
IL such claim or right had been granted il would
forbid every coal-kn and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
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,
august 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them thsercinape right of making gas from
tcood,n 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 believed 10 be Mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ereia-
sipe right Of making gas from scoSd II would,
however, be unjustifable to expect me 10 make
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents
w. p. McCosAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof G. @. Page, Washington, ID. Z.
The U,iifed States Patent OFoe--To an PERSONS TO
schom these presents shall come, grating:
This is certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files Of this Office Of extract from a
paper filed in the matter Of the application Of w.
d. 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 fity-four
In testimony whereof, | Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
lI. 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. g. MASON
Copv of disclaimer of w. d. Porter ia MS applica.
fion for "an improved stM for making tnood
gas fled Angua 5, 1854. Letters patent fssued
Angua22, 1854.
"I do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjeciing the products Of destructive dstillation
therefrorn TO 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 Ofce-- To all yerSonsto
,choDl thesspre shall come creating
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a 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 6hy-four.
In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
=, affixed this twenty fhh day OF August,
u 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy.four, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. e. Mason.
Ea1yaot from, Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
schict ieaers patent issued August o. 1854.
CIAM.--What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO 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 @, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, 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. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS @. PAGE.
senoOR,s RAILROAD MAP OF THE
limited ATVsG.,s-This celebra9