Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-23
WOOD GAs-CAUTIoS.


DE II known that I, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1891 for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood and the making iherefrom OF tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recentlv patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuly belongs 10 me,
/ expect 10 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
patenable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed and also
a copy Of his claims.
In the National Iatelligenoer 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,
1851 and how far the threat ntimidate under
such circumstances? MIR. Porter's claim is based
upon 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
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada for an
equivalen, conlrivance. 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 absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Ohce
Ifsuch claim right had been granted, it would
forbid every coaI-kn and charcoal mandatory
in the country
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent once VIII
show the true state of the ease
UNTEH STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augusl 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of tins date, asking
"if any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854 at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
them :" the e1clusive right Of making gas from
aoooa,' 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 Informed that w. ID. Porters
claims are believed TO be mined TO his appara-
tus; aud, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore Tor the e1elu-
sire right Of making gas from posd 1t would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest
am respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof G. @. Page Washington, ID. G.
TIE United States Patent OGce-To all persons 10
rohonl these presents shall come, greting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files OF this office of extract from a
paper filed 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 6fty-four.
In testimony whereof, i Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
H. $. this 25lh day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and htty-
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy-n ninth. y. MASON.
C0pv of disclaimer of w ID. Porter IN has apploa'
non for " an improved aH for making acood
gas FLED august S, 1854 Letters patent issued
Augna22, 1884
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz;
subiecting the products of destructive disiiilaton
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 Unied States Patent OGee-To all persons TO
roh0Dl these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office of extract from
the specification of w. D. Porters patent issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and 6fty-four
In testimony whereof, !, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty-fth day OF August
= n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fhy-four, and oil the
independence Of the United States the
seventy y-nnth 9. MASON.
Eztract from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
ulieh letters patent were issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as 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
F. substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE