Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-18
Wisrfuankuns.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTTON.

WOOD GAS.--CAUTIONs
DE 1t known that ], the subscriber OBJ
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood and the making therefrom Of TAR or pitch al
pleasure and gas aud 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 infrIng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 70 ine,
as / expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use OF
said P0eer'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. D. 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 Iuteuigsnoer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusve right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how TINS statement
comports with the fact ofmy patent OF December
1851, and how far the threat can intimldate 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 Once that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent comlrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, aud 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 It's 'front.' and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent once.
If such a claim or right had been granted il would
forbid every coal-kiln 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 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. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 70 MIN
or them " the erclnsfrs right Of making gas from
tcood,n 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 mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercln
sire right of making gas from Uosd. II would,
however, be uniustifable TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner OF Patents
w. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent Office To all persons to
ohom these presents shall come grating
This is 10 certify thai the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of this Office Of an extract from
paper fled in The matter of the application of w.
D. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said W. b. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, / Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the hnaent Officefo he hereunto affixed
H. 81 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 Y. MASON
Copy of disclaimer Of W. D. Porter IN his applca.
fion for 'san Improved sfiH for making GOOD
ga" fled Augua5, 1854. Letters patent tssusd
Augnsf22, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjeciing the products Of destructive distiaton
thereirom 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 persons TO
fohom Mesep shall come greeting
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. D. Porer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office to be hereunto
:. affixed this twenty-fhh day OF August,
u" - in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason
Eazraci from Specification Of w d. Porter on
.pl,eh letters patent acre issued Apgust %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
r. n IL
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth Of the above may be ascertaned from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.