Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-22
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
T. It known that I, the subscriber

ID tanned letters patent in December 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making thcrefrom of tar or pitch al
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 rightfully belongs to me-
as l 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
patentable to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. d. Porter has formally dsclamed, rs 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 InteQigencsr OF the 9th Instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. l ask how this statement
COMFORTS 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, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused interfering with
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 statement carries absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent OH ce
IL such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kin and charcoal mandatory
an 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 IS, 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 persons, securing TO him
or them the ercinsiue right Of making gas from
rood" 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezcin-
size right Of making gas from Wosd II would,
however, be unjusti6able TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq.
Care of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United STATES Patent OGee--To all persons 10
phoDr these presents shall come, grefing
This is TO cerny that the annexed is true copy
from the files or this Office Of an extract from a
paper filed in the matter Of the application of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to 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 TO be hereunto affixed
IT, s.. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifiy-
four, and ofthe independence ofthe United
Copy of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his appiico.
iron for "an improved still for making GOOD
gas Ned August s. 1854. Letters patent issued
AUGUSTA 1854.
"I, do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subJecting the products Of destructive dis,aton
therefrom to a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. r. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OGce-7S all persons 10
pkom tkSsspyesents shall come greeting.
This is 10 certify that the annexed isa 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 fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, ], Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office to be hcreunto
r, affixed tins twenty.ifth day OF August,
- q in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty.four and OF the
Independence of the United States the
scventy-nin,h. c. Mason.
Eaaraa from, Specification of w. d. Pe,tsr o.,
ohtch letters patent tcere issued august 90, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de.
sire 70 SECURE by letters patent Isl
The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate C, aud exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, 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.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS @. PAGE.