Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-23
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

ID f. 1t known that L, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillaiion OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch AT
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 IS
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 process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof, aSd which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
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 Intelligeucer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive rgAI making gas from
wood" and threatens sp.s Ztion TO all parties
infringing his patent. I ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December
1851, and how far the threat can intmdate under
such circumstances2 Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, given be-
low, and inwhich the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Otice
If such claim right had been granted, it 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 10 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 TO him
or them I" The ereitsiUs right Of nlaktng gas from
aOood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. 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 10 be Mined TO his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclu
stue right Of making gas from acosd II would,
however, be unjustiiable TO expect me to make
extended investigation to 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.
Tile United States Patent OGee-Io all persons TO
aohonl these presents shall come, grating:
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 TO the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and 6fy-four.
In testimony whereof, | Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office to be hereunto affixed
IL. S. 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. Q. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter ia his ayyiica.
tton for "an Improved sttH for making rood
gas fled august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
AngnSt22, 1854.
81 do not claim 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 Untted States Patent Ofce--To all persons to
tchom these presents shall come greetfng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of an 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, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:, affixed tins tweniy-hfth day OF August,
81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MASON
Ea1ract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
sohich letters patent acere issued august 22 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 a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe
cifcaton, 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.