Washington sentinel., 1855-01-09
Misrfllant0ms.
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

DE II known that j, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1891, for
an apparatus for the destructive distaton 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. d. 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 invenion involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and which has been adIudged TO be
pateniable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclamed, as APP
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 Iatelligencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the tsexciusive right to making gas from
wood,n 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.. Porters 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 first refused interfering with
prior patent to 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 absurdity on Its front, and
is a libel on the good sense OF the Patent once.
If such claim or right had been granted, would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
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:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 MN
or them the erclatsipe right of making gas from
rood" 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. u. 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 eacln-
size night of making gas from acosd II would,
however, be uniustifable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. P. McCoNAELL. Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, D. c.
The United States Patent Ofee-1o all persons TO
aohon, these presents shall come, grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office of an extract from a
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 ifty-lour.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
H. S. this 25th day of August in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and Oft independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb G. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of W. d. P0rt<r IN his appl;ca.
ton for San inpvuvsd still for making rood
gas," "6ied August S, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjectins the products of destructive distillaton
therefrom TO a high degree of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. P. Mcconnell"
TIE United States Patent OFce-To all persons to
schom hesepresents shall come greeting:
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. Porters patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fify-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-fiilh day OF August,
IL % in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and of the
independence of the United States the
seveniy-ninth. G. MASON.
Eaaract from Specification of W. ID. Porter on
.chich letters patent issued August % 1854.
CLaIM.-What claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF a metallic other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
Mgs.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CIIAS. G. PAGE.