Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-17
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom 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. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person without infring'
ing my said patent And, further, that what Is
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 of
said PorteFs 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, rs APP
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 Intslgigsncer of the 25th instant
MIR. 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 can intimidate under
such circumstancess Mr.. Porter's claim 10 based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with a
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"
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Ofice
II such claim or right had been granted, it twould
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
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
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcK,
AHgust 25, 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 at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "He e1clmsive 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 c mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezcl1-
saue right Of making gas from toosd. 1t would,
however, be unjustifable to expect me TO make
extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
lam, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. MoCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
Tie United States Patent Ofcs-To all persons to
sohoms tAsse prsss'ats shall come, gretialg:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
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 10 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 10 be hereunto affixed
L. s. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence Of the United
States the seventy ninth. q. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer of W. d. Porter IN his appliea.
tom for san improved stiH for making roood
ga" filed Angna 5, 1854. LeftNs patent issurd
augusta, 1854.
"I do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products of destructive dstilation
thereirom to a high degree of heat, substantially
has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell
The United Sfa,es Patent OEoe-To all persons 10
,choDs these presents shaU come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofthis Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four.
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:, affixed this iwenty-hfth day OF August,
the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth @. MASON
Earraot from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
sohich letters patent acre issued August % 1854.
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
1.-THE construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of a metallic or other cylinder d, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be sscertained from
the records Of the Patent Ofce, to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
Ru his CHAS O. PAGE