Washington sentinel., 1855-03-06
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
E 1t known that i, the subscribe,


ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch a,
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 infring-
ing my said patent. And, further that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfuly 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 process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adudged 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally discaimed as an.
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 Intel2igenesr of the 25th lns,ant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured By
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood, and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing has patent. | ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
lSol and how FAR the threat can intirnidate under
such circumstances Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with "a
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
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on It's 'front.' and
Is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office
II such 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 ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augua IS, 1854
SIN. In reply TO your letter of this dat,.. asking
II any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August, 1851, or at any Other time or
TO any other person or persons securing 10 him
or them me ercinsice right Of making gas from
rood" and whether any such cl aim was made by
W. W. y. Ioner, under ms application for patent,
wnlch ietiers patent were ISSUED bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. ID. Porters
claims are believed To- be c mined TO his appara-
tus ana, iuItheri inis Office is not aware that a
patent mas been granted heretofore for the ercln-
S.u ttgM @ making gas from scosd Il would,
however, he unjustifable TO expect me 10 male
an extended investigation 10 answer your re.
quest.
am, respectfully your obedient servant,
e. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents
w. z. McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care oi Prot. G. g. Page, Washington d. &.
The Unifed States Patent Osee-To NIL pe,sov, J,
Dhom Mo@ presents shall come, grating:
This rs TO certify that the annexed is a true COPY
from the files OF this Office OF an extract from 4
paper filed in the matter Of the application OF w
u: 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 ffty-four
In testimony whereof Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
OF The Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
| T. s. this 10Th day Of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fiiy-
four, and ofthe independence of the United
States the seventy-nntb. O. Mason
Copy Of disclaimer Of w ID. Porter IN nj, 0ppy,c1.
hon for "an improped stM for making ncooa
Aagaa22 1854.
do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
sublecting the products Of destructive distlation
therefrom TO high degree of heat, substantially
rs has been described and for the purposes Sc,
Ior'h ~ the specification OF w. 7. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent Omce-To all per,out 4,
tchom hssepreSent shall come creating.
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true ro,,,
rom the records Of his Office of an extract from
The specification Of w. D. Porter's pa,ept. ;ssneJ
"a the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fihy-four.
In testimony whereof |, Charles Mason co,,.
missioner Of Patents, have caused he
seal oi the Patent Office TO be hereunto
r.. 81 aitxed this twenty.fhh day OF August.
IN the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiy.four, and OF The
independence Of the United States the
seveuty-ninth. G. MAsoE.
tatract from Specification Of W. D. Porer on
'chich letters patent neye issned AngsSt 90, 1854.
CLAIM What claim as my invention and de-
IRE TO secure by letters patent is:
The construction Of gas apparatus or sin
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder II. he
,ones y and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit nine
/, substantially described in the foregoing sne
'ifcation; and shown IN the accompanying draw
ngs."
The truth OF the above may be ascertained from,
he records Of the Patent Office, TO which All bsy..
ccess.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.