Washington sentinel., 1855-03-17
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

ID f 1t known that j, the subscriber OBJ.
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation 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 appar.
tus recently patented BY w. d. Porter cannot bs
used by him or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IL
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me,
as | 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 10 the first inventor ihereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an oficialcopy is hereto annexed and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Inteligeacer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution to all parties
infringing his patent. l ask how this statement
comports with the fact Of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can inlimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
50 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 Rober, FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm 10 the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdity its front, and
is libel on iiis good sense of the Patent Once
If such claim 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 Patent Office win
show the true state of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OYFrcK,
Angna Is, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
lf ma fer has bee ora n ID
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person persons, securing to him
or them " the ercfnsive righf Of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing ths
above date, you informed that w. ID. Porsrs
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this ONCE is not aware that q
patent has been granted heretofore for the szciN-
stve right of making gas from scosd. II would,
however, be unjusti6able 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. c. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent OGce-To al psrssxs TO
tchom these presents shall come, grefiHx:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from q
paper filed in the matter of the application Of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in socordance with
which application letters patent were ssued to the
said W. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, l Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
H. s.. this 25th day of August, in the year of
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6hy-
four, and the independence of the United
States the seventy y-nintb. c. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer of w d. Porter IN has appi,ca.
tion for can Improved stiH for making scood
gas, fled Angna 5, 1854. Letters patent issmsd
Angnsf %, 1854.
do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subJecting the products Of destructive dstllation
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell
TIE Unaed States Patent OSce-7o oil ysrsomsfo
,chon hese presents shall come greetimg:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
the specification Of w. ID. Porter'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 TO be hereunto
r, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
u . in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fhy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MAsoS
Ezfraot from Specification Of w. ID. Penr
Vhich letters patent tcere issued Angnsf % 1854.
CLArM-What claim my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
The construction OF gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b. the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.
ssDOOR'S RAILROAD MAP OF THE
UNITED STATES.v-This celebrsI
ted Map, recently eulogized by Lieutenant Mau
ry, in his virginia Letters is on sale at
TAYLOR ~ MAURYS