Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-03-29
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

- >
Id tained letters patent in December, 1851, for
apparatus for the destructive distillation' OF
wood, aud 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,
| 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 be
patentable the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclamed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy Of his claims
In the National Iats2igsncsy of the 25,h instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the '-cAUi--iva right ,.-L'"s gas rom
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.. Poner's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
30 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 a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent conirivance. 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
If such claim or right had been granted it would
forbid every coal-ki and charcoal manuiactory
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 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
to any other person or persons, securing to him
them 'sMe crciatsive right of making gas from
aooodp 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 TO his appara-
tus; and, further this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercln-
sase right Of making gas from acos6. II would,
however, be unjustiaable 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. G.
The United States Patezs OGce--Io all persons to
scaom these presents shall come, gretins:
This is to certify that the annexed is atrue 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 TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day ofsAugust,
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. 81 this 25ih day Of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four and Of the independence OF the United
SfotA fha fxr- inf N aonN
Copy of disclaimer Of W. ID. Porter in his appica.
tion for san improved srY Jor making aoood
gas fled august S, 1854. Letters patent tSsned
Angusf22, 1854.
g do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz
subjecting the products of destructive distillaton
thereirom 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 United States Patent Offce-To all persons to
schom these presents shall come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is n 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 ffiy-four.
In. testimony whereof !, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office to be hereunto
r, :, affixed this twenty-6fth day OF August
= IN the year oil our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
scventy-ninih G. Mason.
Ezaract from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
tchioh letters patent were issued Augna %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
eThe construction of gas apparatus or STILL
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder b the
cones f and d, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertaned from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY bis attorney CHAS. G. PAGE. 4