Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-29
wOoD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851. tor
an apparatus for, the destructive distilaiion OF
wood, and The making therefrom OF tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment ot
tus recently paiented by w. u. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 md,
as expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use of
said Porters invention involves also process
which l am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
pateniable to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF sand Office OF
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy Of his claims.
In the National Intslyigsncer OF the 25th instant,
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
comports with the faci of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intmdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Poner's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO rnderstood 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 FOULS, of Canada, for
equivalent contrivance. This claim, given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdiiy on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office
If such 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 case:
q. UNIrKB STATES PATENT OFFICE
Augua 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
il any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them the ercinsive right Of making gas from
rood" 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 HRS appara-
tus; aud, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclu-
sIUe right Of making gas from acoDd II would,
however, be unjustifable to expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest
Lam, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL. Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent OGcs-To all persons TO
Uhom these presents shall come, grfing:
This is to certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this Office Of 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. ID. Porter the 22d day of August.
eighteen hundred and fAy-four.
4 In testimony whereof, l. 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 emo thaA.and aighi hundred and fiffy-
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seventy 9. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter has applica.
tion for san improped still for making toood
gas FILED august 5, 1854. Letteys patent issaed
August %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distation
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 U,aifed States Patent O6ce-To all persons 10
Whom esepreseats shaH come greeting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office of extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porer's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ify-four.
In testimony Whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hcreunto
:, affixed ihls twenty fifth day OF August,
u the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffyfour, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy ninth. c. MASON.
Extract from Specification Of w. d. Porter
sohieh letters patent issued august %, 1854.
CLArN-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"Thc construction of a gas apparatus still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones aud ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Offce, 10 which all have
access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.