Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-22
WOOD GAs,-CAUTION.

ANa~f.A 3 WONJO. IAS~--CAOIlDNs
DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation 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. 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 l expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use Of
said Porter's invention involves also q process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
paientable TO the 6rst inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed as ap-
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 IateLligencsr of the 25th instant
MIR. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "excusive right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution to all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
compons with the fact of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Portcr's claim 10 based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as 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-
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, 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,
+. august 25, 1854.
SIR In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time. or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them tho erclnsius right Of making gas from
s0Ood," and whether any such, claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. D. 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 erclu-
stvs right of making gas from, aoosd II would,
however, be unjustfable 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 G. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent OGce-Io all persons TO
schon these presents shall come greting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office of 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 ths
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
4. 81 this 25th day of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence ofthe United
States the seventy-nintb. O. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer of w. d. Porter in his applca.
tion for an improved stiH for making toood
gas" fled Angnst S, 1854. Lefters patent issued
Augsst22 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz
subecting the products of destructive distillation
therefrom to q high degree of heat, substantially
has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of W. P. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OGce--To al persons to
schons these presents shall cone 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. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and 6fy-four.
In testimony whereof l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed tins twenty fifth day OF August,
n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiyfour, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MASON
Ezraa from Specification Of W. d. Porter on
schich letters patent acre issued August a. 1854.
CLArM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"Thc construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of metallic other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spc-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be asccrtained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.