Washington sentinel., 1855-03-14
WOOD GAs.-CAUTTON.


DE n known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillafion oi
wood, and the making iherefrom 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. 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 to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use Of
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and which has been adjudged to be
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed, 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,rteligeaesY 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. ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1881, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Por,ers claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of abe Patent Office that bis
claim was at first refused interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance This claim, rs given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
the exclusive right TO making gas from wood"
The stateias N c"rries absurdty on its ffont and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Odics
If such claim or right had been granted, i. would
forbid every coa-kin and charcoal mandatory
IN the country
The following copies Of correspondence aad
extracts from the records OF the Patent Office win
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFrIcE,
August 25 1854.
SIR In reulv 10 your letter of this dafa askin~
" if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter.
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them the ezcinsfps rIeh Of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w d. Porter, under his application for paissi,
which letters patent were issued bearing tho
above date, you are informed that w. d. Porsr's
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appsra-
tus; and, further, this Office Is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercfu-
SIRE right Of making gas from wosd II would.
however, be unIust6able TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully your obedieni servant,
q. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof C. G. Page, Washington, D. c.
7Hs Unaed States Patent OTee-To all pssssns 70
chon these presents shall come, grsssxE:
This is TO certify that the annexed ia 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 accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be here1nto asked
IL. $. this 25th day Of August, 10 the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6fy.
four, and Of the independence Of the United
States the seyenty-nluth, C.. MASON
Cory Of disclaimer of w. d. Porter ia m, appzsen.
tfon for an improved sfW for making .cood
gas,"fled august $, 1854. Laers patent isned
Augua22 1854.
:" do not claim a. nv invention and discovery
the improvements y. making gas from wood, viz:
suhJectng the products OF destructive distillation
thereirol 10 high degree of heat, substa ntially
As has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification OF w. p. Mcconnell
The Unitcd Sfaes Patent OFce-To all person, 10
schon these presents shall 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. d. 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 10 be hereunto
r, :, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August
in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifiy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Earrao from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,chaoh letters patent issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.--What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or stif,
consisting OF metallic other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, daphram plate @, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
access,
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.
ssDOORS RAILROAD MAP OF THE
UNITED sTATES.s-This celebre
ted Map, recently eulogized by Lieutenant Mapi
rxr IA b,c ~. Il. al