Washington sentinel., 1855-07-21
wood GAs.-CAUTION.

II -
an apparatus for the destructive distillaton OF
wood, and the making therefrom 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. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent And, further, that what rs
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 Porters invention involves also 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. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National Intelkigenoer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 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 intmdate 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
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada, for
equivalent contrvance. 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 to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absnrdity on It's front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manuactory
IN the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records the Patent Office will
show the true state OF the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
august 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter OF this date, asking
ii has ,taI
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "Me e0cinsiUe right of making gas from
aoood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter under his application for patent,
which letters patent We're 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
patent has been granted heretofore for the eacla-
size right Of making gas from aoosd II would,
however, be unjustifabe 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. McCoNAELI4 Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, ID. G.
TIE United States Patent OGce-Io all persons 10
aohom these presents shall come, grettng;
This is to 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 TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four,
In testimony whereof | Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
H. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and ofthe independence the United
States the seventy-nIntb G. Mason.
Copy Of disclaimer of w. d. Porter ia his appiica.
ton for san Improved still for making GOOD
gas, "fkd august $, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
" | do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive dstilation
therefrom TO high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p Mcconnell"
Tie United States Patent OEce-Io all persons 10
tohoRl these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is 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 ffy-four
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
- the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. @. MASON
Ezaraa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
'cttch letters patent issued august % 1854.
CLAM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones L 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.
WIN. II. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE