Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-05
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

| 4 IL known lnat L, the buDsCrlDer 0D-
! I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distllation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
/ 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
| ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs TO me,
| as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and further, that the Of
| said Porters invention involves also process
| which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentabc to the first inventor thereof and which
said w ID. 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 I,feAigencsr Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 all parties
infringing his patent. / ask how this statement
comports with the fact ofm patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidae under
such circumstancesa Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
80 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 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance This claim, as 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 absurdty on its front, and
il libel on the good sense Of The Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted II 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 ease:
@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date asking
I" 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 "Ae srclstsius right of making gas from
tcood" 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. d. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the e1ctn-
siye right of making gas from s0osd. 1t would,
however, be unjustifable to expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof. G: G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent OGee-To all persons to
qshons these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
-
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 fiity-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
L. 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
n
Copv of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter has applica.
fion for san improved stW for making foood
gas, fled august S, 1854. Letters patent tssued
Amgua22, 1884.
ss / do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjectiWg the products Of destructive distlauon
thererom TO a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w P. Mcconnell"
The Unired States Patent O6foe-To al persons TO
tchonn these presents shall come greetmg:
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 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,
IL 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ifty-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. O. MASON
Ez4raa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,chich letters patent scere 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,
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
c6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe 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.
ss@nop,s RAuUROAD MAP OF THE