Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-23
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

| DE 1t known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
| Id tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distulation OF
wood, and the making thererom oftar or pitch at
| 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 nfring-
| ing my said patent. And, further that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs 10 me,
| as / expect to prove ere long before the United
| States Patent Office and further, that the of
| said Porters invention involves also process
| which am 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 disclaimed, 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 I,telligeacer of the 25lh instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right TO making gas from
woodn 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. Por.crs claim is based
upon a 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 as interfering with a
prior patent TO Robert Foulis of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. This claim, as given be-
low and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
sa wing clause is what Mr., Porter calls securing
the Exclusive right 10 making gas from wood" "
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent O'lice
If such a 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 will
show the true state OF the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augua 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter OF this date, asking
g If any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person persons, securing 10 him
them " tie exclusive right Of making gas JroDa
aoO0d," 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. Porier's
claims are believed 10 be mined 10 his appara-
tus aud, further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eTclm-
stUe rigM Of making gas from acosd. IL would,
however be unlustitable TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoHAELI, Esq,
Care Of Prof. G.. G.. Page, Washington, u. z.
TIE Us,ited States Patent O6fce-To all persons 10
tchonl these presents shall come grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files OF this office OF an extract rom
paper fled 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 he hereunto affixed
IL. 81 this 25th day Of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hiiy-
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nintb. .. Mason.
Copu of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his appiica.
non for "an impyovsd still for making acood
gas fled august 5, 1854 Letters patent fsSned
august %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
sublecting the products of destructive dlstillaon
thereirom 10 a high degree OF heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell
The Un4ed States Patent OGce-To all persons 10
tcl0Dl these presents shall come greeting
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofths Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fny-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-ffth day oil August
= - n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and y-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seyenty-ninth. G. Mason.
Eaaract from Specification of w d. Porter
schich letters patent issued Angast %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What | claim my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
THE construction of gas apparatus or STILL
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
suha antf, llt deSa in he
cifcaion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascerained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
Rv his attorney CHAS G. PAGE.