Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-08
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

II tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distlation 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
used by him any other person without intring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what rs
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 adudged TO be
pateniabie to the first inventor thereof, and which
said W. ID. Porter has formally discaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy OF his claims.
In the National Mtelligenesr 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,
1851, and how far the threat can Intimldate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
80 understood by the Patent Office, it appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouhs of Canada for
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 statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office
# such claim or 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 will
show the true state Of the case:
UNITEB 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 al any other time, or
to any other person persons securing to him
or them The ezciustUe right Of making gas from
acood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were ISSUED bearing the
above date you are informed that w. ID. 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 e1cin-
sire right Of making gas from acosd. 1t would,
however, be unJustifabe 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, ID. q.
Tie United States Patent OFee--To all persons to
sclson, these presents shall come grating:
This is 10 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.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO tha
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 TO be hereunto affixed
IL. 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
States the seventy-nlntb. G. MASON.
Conn of disclaimer of w d. Porter IN his applica.
tion for "an improved still for making tcood
gas filed august 5, 1854 Letters patent issued
Augnst22, 1854.
" i do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products of destructive distillaon
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 OGoe-To all persons TO
tchonl 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. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four
In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
!, affixed this twenty-fflh day OF August,
- n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and hy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seyenty-nnth C. Mason.
Extract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tolstch letters yatsnt Soere issued august p, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic other cylinder b the
cones L and ID, 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 ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.