Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-25
WOOD CAs.-CAUTION.

WOOD GA9s-CAUTIONs
DE II known that I, the subscriber oh
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, Tor
an apparatus for the destructive distilislion OF
wood, and the making thersfrom Of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas; and that In the judgment oI
competent persons the invention Of an sppar-
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 wha. Z
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me,
as / expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use oi
said Porters 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 aud which
said w. D. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records oil said Office, OF
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
Z copy Of his claims. e
In the National Alteuigsncsy of the 23th 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 patont. ask how this statement
compOrs with the fact Of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porer's claim 10 based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
20 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
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be.
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 a libel on the good sense of the Patent Odice
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
in the country. sle
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Office will
show the true state Of the case
,4 UMTKB STATS PATENT OFFICE,
Angnst IS, 1854
SIR In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
If any patent has been granted TO w. D. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time or
TO any other person or persons, securing to him
or them the erelNsivs rigAt Of making gas from
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. d. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined TO bis appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that q
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclal
s'vs right Of making gas from tOosd. II would,
however be unjusufable 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. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G. Page Washington, d. c..
TIE United States Patent OGce-To all persons to
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files Of this Office Of extract from a
paper fled in the matter Of the application of w.
d. 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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, 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 one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four and of the independence the United
States the seventy-nIntb. @. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter tn his appiica.
fion for san Improved sfiH for making toood
gas filed August S, 1854. Letters patent issued
ANRHsf22, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecling the products of destructive dstilation
therefrom to . high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The Unifed States Patent OGee-To all persons 70
schom these presents shaH come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty -four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty y-ffh day of August,
= n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ifty-four, and OF the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth. @. Mason
Erfract from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
whieh letters patent scers issned August %, 1854.
CIArM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"Thc construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones E and ID, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
T, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ci6caton, 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.