Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-30
MisGkIlamkgns.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION'

DE It known tnat 1, tnc suDsCTAD0L oU
ID tanned letters patent In December, 1921, io'
an anparatus for the destructive distilaton o.
wood and the making therefrom OF tar or ptch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment o.
competent persons the invention OF an apper'
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot DC
used by him or any other person without inirng
ing nv said patent. And, further, that what -
patented by said Porter rightfuly belongs to me,
as | expect TO 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 10 DC
patentabIe TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. u. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap,
pears upon the public records OF said once, o.
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
q copy of his claims.
In the National IastslHgsnesr Of the 25th instant
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 circumstances? Mr. Porters claim 10 based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as 1t 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 an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, andin which the perforated diaphragm is the
the "exclusive right to making gas from wood. !.
The statement carries absurdity on its 'front.' and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office.
If such claim or right had been granted, 1t 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
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 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 at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing to him
or them g" "hse1clusive right Of making gas from
aooodn 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 his apPara-
tus and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erelu-
sive right of making gas from tooed. II would,
however, be unjustfable 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.
The United States Patent OGee-7o all persons TO
4chon. these presents shall come, grsting
from the files of this Office Of an extract from a
paper filed in the matter of the application Of W.
d. 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, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
f. s. this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
four, and ofthe independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. T. MASON
Com of disclaimer of W. d. Porter in has appica.
tion for AN improped stil for making GOOD
gas, filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent issned
August %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz ;
subectins the products Of destructive disiillaton
thereirom 10 high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification Of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OGee-To all persons TO
schop. hssspresents shall come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records Of this Office Of extract from
the specification of w. ID. Poner's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-fo
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunio
:, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
IL 81 in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifiy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
scyenty-ninth. G. Mason
Ea1ract from Specification of w ID. Porter on
scjtich letters patent ,cere issued august 20 1854.
CLArMs-Whnt claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones f and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ciication, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth OF the above may be ascertained from
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.
CCOTT,s WEEKLY PAPER.--The pub