Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-07
WOOD GAs.-CAUrION.


DE 1t known that i, tho subscriber oh
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making thercfrom 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 -
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me,
as ! expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the 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 disclaimed, ss 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 IatsIligsMosr Of the 23th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusve right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO all parties
Infringing his patent. ] ask how this statement
comports with the fart of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidatc under
such circumstances! Mr.. Porer's claim il based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
50 understood by the Patent Odice as il appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
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 "exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdty on its front, and
IL a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Once
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
in the country.
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFrIcK,
August IS, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
"if any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing to him
or them !" .Ae eaclnsivs right Of making gas from
tOood" 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. Portsrs
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 szc!n-
siue right Of making gas from scosd II would,
however be unjustifable to expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent OGes-To all persons TO
schons these presents shall come, grazing:
from the files Of this Office of an extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent IN accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and 6fty-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
II. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffty-
four, and of the independence Of the United
States the seventy-nlntb. G. MASON.
Copy of disoafsser Of W. d. Porter IN has apYlieG.
ton for "oss isaproped sfiH for ssaking sc0od
ga" FLED Angnst 5, 1854. Letfers patent issned
AugMst22, 1854.
al do not claim as nv invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive dstilation
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"
The United States Patent OGes-To all ysrsons to
.chom thfss presents shall come grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
:. affixed this twenty-6nh day OF August,
L o. n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fy-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth. G. MASON.
Eazracs from Specification of w. d. Porter oas
IDhich letters patent scers issued AngnH ~, 1854.
CLAM-What claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent il .
"The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
co insisting Of a metallic other cylinder B, the
cones E and d, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spc-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
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. @. PAGE.