Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-12
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

DE Ii known that 4. the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December 1851, for
apparatus for the destructive distillaton Of
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch ai
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 or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent And, further, that what is
patented BY said Porter righfully belongs TO me,
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further that the use Of
said Porters invention involves also a 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 disclamed. as ap-
pears upon the public. records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, aud also
q copy ol his claims.
In the Nationals LteHtgenosf OF the 25ih instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood, and threatens prosecution To all parties
infringing his patent | ask how this statement
compors with the fact of my patent of December,
1851 and how far the threat can lntiInidate under
such circumstances! Mr. Porter claim is based
uponaa movable perforated diaphragm and was
20 understood by the Patent Office, as appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with
prior patent To Robert Fouls. of Canada, for an
equivalent coutrvance. This clam, a. given be-
low, and n which the perforated diaphragm 's the
SAVING clause IL what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right to making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on lts front, and
il libel on the good sense oi the Patent O'iice
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manutactory
in the country.
The following copies OF correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Office viii
show Inc true state of the ease
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augua 25 1854
SIR. In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
3" if any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854 or al any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them " the ercinsips right of making gas froHa
scood," 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined 10 his appara-
tus and, further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercln
.stre right Of making gas from acosd. 1t would,
however, be unjustfable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest 4s
aol, respectfully your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
W. p. MCCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof C. G. Page, Washington, u. 9.
The United States Patent OGce-To all persoaS 10
whom these presents shall conle, grettRg:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the fixes of ths 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 We're issued 10 the
said W. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and Gfty-iour.
In testimony whereof, / Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. s. this 25th day of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence the United
States the seventy ninth 9. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of ". d. Porter IN his applica
tioa far san improred StfH for making toood
gas FLED Augna 3 1854. LeherS patent fssmed
august %, 1854.
g | do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
the products of destructive distilaton
thereirom to high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell
The United Stotes Pa,ezl OHcc-T6 all persons 10
tchom thesspreseais shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Poner's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office TO be hereunto
!, affixed this twenty-flh day OF August,
n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred aud ffy.four and oil the
independence Of the United States the
seyenty-ninth. G. Mason.
Erract from Specification Of ". ID. Porter on
rhich letters patent issued AagwSt %, 1854.
CIAM.--What claim my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones L aud ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofihe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 70 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.
4 A -. IN efrI