Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06

i } n IL known tnat i, the SUBSCRIBER OD-
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
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 wituout infring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patentsd by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 me,
as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Ofice 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 and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
swhich official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy of his claims
In the National Eateliigencsr OF the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 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 intmdate 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 as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, given be-
low, and 10 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 absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
II such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Paten, Office will
show the true state OF the case:
UNITEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augua 23, 1854.
l..y,. ~T Hat Irtno
if any patent has been granted TO w d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them ale ezelustue right Of making gas from
ao0od" and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above dale, you are informed that w. d. 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 eaciu-
size right Of making gas from acoSd II would,
however be unjustifiable 10 expect uie TO make
extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedieht servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents. =
w. p. MCCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prot. G. g. Page, Washington, D. G.
The Uaited States Patent OFcs-To all persons 10
achom 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.
d. 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, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he 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 O. MASON.
Conn of disclaimer of w d. Porter IN his appiioa.
non for "aa improved stiH for making GOOD
gas, fled Angnst 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Angna22, 1854.
"I do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distilaton
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell
The Unised States Patent Ofoe-To all persons 10
tchom hesspressnfs shall come grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Pouer'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 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty-fhh day OF August,
= - n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
SEVENTY ninth c. MASON.
Eaaraa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,eieh letters patent tcere issued august %, 1854
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent ia
The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting ef a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
inRs."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.