Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-18
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE II known that i, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distllation 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 appar-
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person without nfring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuLy belongs TO me,
as i 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 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed 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 LsteHigencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the 'sexcusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 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 ntimidate 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 Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
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 Office
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 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
10 any other person or persons, securing to him
or them Ms erclttsiUe right Of making gas from
aoood," 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. Porters
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 ercfu-
save right of making gas from aoosd. II would,
however, be unJustifabe TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason Commissioner of Patents
w. P. McCoNAELL, ESQ.,,
Care of Prot. G. G. Page, Washington, ID. c.
The Uaited States Patent ORoe-Io all persons to
q
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office Of 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 10 the
said W. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffiy-four.
In testimony Whereof |. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
l. s.. this 25th day of August, IN the year OF our
l...-l .l...I I'D Glt,y
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nlntb. q. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of w d. Porter has appliea.
ton for san improved stiH for making tcood
gas, 6led august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
sublecting the products of destructive distation
therefrom TO a 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 O6ce-To all persons 10
ichon these presents 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. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second 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 this twenty-ffth day OF August,
- d n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-nnth. G. MASON.
Eztract from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
tchieh letters patent tcere issued Augua %, 1854
CLAIM.--What | claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
H. thar culin hp
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
Rv his attorney CHAS G. PAGE,