Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-20
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

L =,
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851 fol
an apparatus for the destructive distillation o.
wood, and The making therefrom of tar or pitch al
| pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment o
competent persons the invention of an appar
tus recently patented by w ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Il
patented by said Porter rightfully 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 a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be
patentabe 10 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 is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Intelhge,,cey 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
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 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent Ofice
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kln and charcoal maaufactory
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:
UMTEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august %, 1854.
S,u n 10 iatta IF his Iafa
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 the eaelnsivs right Of making gas from
tooodn and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent We're ISSUED bearing the
above date you informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims believed to be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is moi aware that
patent has been granted heretofore Tor the eIclu-
srpe right Of making gas from 1co-a II would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect me 10 make
extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
nm, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI. Esq,
Care of Prof. G.. @. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United States Patent OGee-To all persons TO
schonl these presents shall come, grettng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a 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 fifty-four.
In testimony Whereof l. 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 the independence the United
States the seventy-nlnth. O. Mason.
Copyof disclaimer Of w. p Porter in his appiiea.
tion for "an Improved stsH for making soood
gas, filed august S, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augma22, 1854.
" | do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distilauon
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The Uruited States Patent Ofioe-To all persons 10
Dhom ssprssents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office of extract from
the specification of w. d. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fay-lour.
In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
- 81 n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF The
independence of the United States the
seventy-nnth G. MASON
Ezraa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tohieh haers patent Wsre issued august %, 1854.
CLMM.-What claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E 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, TO which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.