Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-26
WisftIlaneGns.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION'
II knnxxn that the RuhscrI

DE 1t known that ], the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1921, ior
an apparatus for the destructive dlstilaion OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF Tar or ptch ~
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 lniring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfnlly belongs TO me,
as / expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use OF
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged TO De
patentable TO the first inventor thereon, and Whch
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclalmed, 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 Intelhgsncer 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 can lntimidate under
such circumstances Mr.. Porter's claim Is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records OF the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm IS the
the exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is "A libel on the good sense of the Patent Once
If such claim or right had been granted II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Ofce will
show the true state of the case:
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. u. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to MIN
or them The erciusive right Of making gas from
rood" 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. d. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara'
tus; and further this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eaeiM-
sire right Of making gas from acoSd. II would,
however be unjusiifabe to expect me to make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. q. Page, Washington, u. u
The United States Patent OFce-Io all persons to
qcjlom these presents shall come, grefing:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office of an extract from
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 on the 22d day OF August
eighteen hundred and fity-tour.
In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office TO be herennto 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-nintb. q. MASON
tion for san improped stW for making acood
gas fled Augnst S, 1854. Letters patent issued
AugnSt22, 1854.
{" do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subiecting the products OF destructive distilaton
therefrom 10 high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
TIE Uaited States Patent Office To all persons to
tchona M3se presents shall come greeting
This is to 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
on 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-f6h day OF August,
lh's 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. O. MASON.
Extract from Specification Of w. ID. Po,ter on
fchich letters patent issued august %, 1854.
CLArM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b. the
cones E and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth of the above may be ascerained from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.