Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-20
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
WVTVD GASs-OHO HTVNs
DE Ii known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
n Z.


DE Ii known that L, the subscriber OBJ
/ I'D tanned letters patent in December 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive distilation OF
! wood and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
| pleasure and gas and that in the judgment OF
i competent persons the invention OF an appar-
| lus recentlv 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 10 prove ere long before the United
| States Patent Office and, further that the use OF
/ said Porter's invention involves also process
1 which am now claiming before the United States
| Patent Office and which has been Judged 10 be
paentable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
| said w. ID. Porter has formally ds.lamed, 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 IateAigencsr of the 25th instant
| Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
| patent the ''excusive 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 intimidate under
| such circumstances Mr.. Porer'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 at first refused interfering with a
| prior patent 10 Robert FOULS of Canada, for an
| equivalent contrivance. This claim, 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 absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Ofce
If such claim right had been granted, 1t 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:
UNITEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIN In IN lntfa oft hrs AT aSEiU
I" if any patent has been granted TO w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them The erclusiUe right of making gas from
sooodD 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. Porter's
claims are believed 10 be Mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclt-
siue right of making gas from tcosd 1t would,
however, be uni usti6able TO expect me to make
extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq.
Care of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, ID. c.
The United States Patent O6fee-Io all persons 10
toho0l these presents shall come grating:
This is TO 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 the 22d 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 10 he hereunto affixed
Il. s. this 25th day OF August, IN the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and htty-
four, and OF the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nIntb. T.. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter ia has appliea.
tiOn for san impr0Ued stU for making Soood
gas Pied August 5, 1854. Letters patent tssaed
AugnSt22, 1854
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distiation
thereirom to a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. z. Mcconnell
The Uaited STATES Patent oRoe--T0 all PERSONS to
,ohom hesepvesents shaH come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records OF this office OF an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porters 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 thus twenty-6fth 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. z. MASON
Egryad from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
chich letters patent issued august %, 1854.
CLAfM.-What | claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
THE construction Of a gas apparatus or stlll,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones L and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6caton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsp
The truth OF the above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.