Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-03-22
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE 1t known that L, the subscriber ,

II KNOWN tu0C i, the subscriber Cd.
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation 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 infring-
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 Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO bs
patentable to The first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed, 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 Intelligencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution to 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 ntimdate 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 at fret refused interfering with
prior patent To Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
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 statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
II such a claim right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
Tho following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Umce win
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFrIcE,
Angna IS, 1854.
SR. In reply TO your letter Of this date, asking
" if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them "Ms szcinsi~ right Of making gas from
rood" 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be C mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercln-
sipe righf of making gas from wosd II would,
however, be unjusti6able TO expect me to make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, D. C.
The United States Patent OFee-To all persons 10
schors these presents shall come, grefinE:
This is TO certify that the annexed il atrue 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 ffty-fo
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
II. s. this 23th day Of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6fty-
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seventy ninth. c. MAsos.
Copy Of disclaimer of W. d. Porter in III, oppiieo.
tion for "an Improved aiH for makirg teood
gas,"fLed Angna 5, 1854. Lstte,s patent is'ned
August %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products of destructive distillaon
therefrom 10 high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent O6oe-- To all persons 10
whom ths~presents staa come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Poner's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and fifty -four.
In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Oficc TO be hcreunto
:, affixed this twenty.ffth day OF August,
u - in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth. G. MAsoS.
E1raa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter
achieh letters patent issued dngra %, 1854,
CLArM.-What claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction OF gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones + and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ciicstion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
VIM. r. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.
ssDOOR'S RAILROAD NAP OF THE
UNITED STATES.o-This celebra
t~IR RAex> ,f,,. t,xI NJ,