Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-14
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

II , IL hHOWh thhS tuC SuDsSIADSI UD-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
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 or 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 Porter's invention involves also process
which | am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy hereto annexed, and also
copy OF his claims.
In the National L,telligenoer of the R5th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
comporls with the fact of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat intiu,idate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porer's claim is based
upon a 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
equivalent con,rivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and IN which the perforated diaphragm u the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on ITS front, and
is u libel on the good sense of the Patent O:ice
If such claim or right had been granted, IL would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Aagna 25, 1854.
SIR In replylo your letter OF this date, asking
if any patent has been granted 10 W. d. Porter,
dated 22d August 1851, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
them tie ezciusiUe right Of making gas from
icood" 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 are informed that w. II. 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 eTciu-
size right Of making gas from acosd 1t would,
however be unjustifable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioners OF Patents.
w. =. MCCoNAELL. Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, ID. &.
The United STATES Patent Ofce--To all persons 10
achoq these presents shall come, greting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
paper filed in the matter Of the application OF W.
d. Porter for Setters 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 iifty-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL. 5. this 25h day Of August, IN the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the Independence ofthe United
81 - ..
COPY ofdiscLataser Of w. d. Porter in his appiica.
tion for San improvsd still for making aoood
gas" fled August s, 1854. Letters pats'n issued
august %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products OF destructive dtstllauon
therefrom TO high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
Tie United States P0tent OGce-Io all persons 10
tchoDs DesepreSeRts 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. ID. Pouer's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
la testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
!, affixed this twentyffh day OF August,
- n The year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy ninth. G. Mason.
E5oract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tcAich letters patcnt issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Z and ID, dsphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in.the foregoing spe-
ci6cation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Offce TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.