Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-03
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

ID Il IL known that L, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distlllatlon 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 or any other person without intring-
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 process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged TO be
patentable to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed, ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy yis hereto annexed, and also
copy Of his claims
In the National Iateliigeacsr 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 lntimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, it 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 contrivance. This claim, 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 Office
If such claim or right had been granted II 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 ease:
UNITRB STATES PATENr Dff,cg,
Aogni %, 1884.
l., r. a.. ,,Iy,
if any patent has been granted 10 w ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other tne or
to any other person persons, securing 10 him
them the e1ciusips right Of making gas from
aoood" 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 10 be Mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is moi aware that
patent has been granted heretofore tor the eaclA-
size right Of making gas from po-d Il would,
however be uni ustihable to expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedieni servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents
w. p McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington ID. G.
The Unttsd States Patent Ofce-Io all persons to
1ohom these presents shall come, greting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office OF an extract from
paper filed in the matter Of the application of w.
d. Porter for letters patent in accordaace with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fiity-four
In testimony whereof / Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
H. 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. Z. MASON.
tioa for an Improved sttH for making soood
gas" filed August s. 1854. Letters patent issned
Augnst2 %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subecting the products of destructive distilatlon
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 O6fee-To all persons 10
,ohonl these presents shall come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office of extract from
the specification of w. d. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second 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 this twenty-fifth day OF August,
= - n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth c. MASON.
Eauract from Specification of w. ID. Porter
tojich letters patent 1cere issued August %, 1854
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of metallic other cylinder b, the
cones E and D. daphram plate C, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth of the above may be ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. 9. PAGE.