Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-24
MisffIIanf0Ms.


| DE 1t known that i, the subscriber obs
| I'D tanned letters patent in Deccmber, 1891, foi
an apparatus for the destructive distaton 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. d. 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 righifully 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 ADJ udged TO be
patentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
90 py Of h;- aiaiYns
In the National I,lteligencey OF The 18th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusve right 10 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 ntimldate under
such circumstances2 Mr.. Porter's claim is 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 at 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"
The statement carries absurdlty on It's front, and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Ofhce will
show the true state OF the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
SIR In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
g if any patent has been granted to w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person persons, securing to him
or them " Me erclstsipe right of making gas from
,cood," 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. Porters
claims are believed to be mined TO his appnra-
tus; and, further this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the erciu-
sire right Of making gas from arosd. II would,
however, be unjusti6able to expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
! am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents
w. p. MoCoNAELL, Esq,
Care Of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The U,,i,ea States Patent OSce-Io all persons to
arhom these presents shall come, greting
This is to certify that the annexed is a 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 TO the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four
In testimony whereof, L. Charles Mason Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
H. 81 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 y-nintb. c. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of w. d. Porter his aYpiioa.
fion for "an Improved aiu for making toeod
gas Pied August 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
" l do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecting the products of destructive distillaton
therefrom 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 OGce-T all persons to
schom these presents 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. Porier's patent, issued
on the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and iif,y-four-
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office to be hereunto
IL 81 IN ,hs yes, oS our lord one tbousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and. OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy y-ninth. o. MASON
Ez1ract from Specification Of W. ID. Psrt~ on
aohich letters patent rcere issned August q, 1854.
CIAIM.-What claim my invention and de
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or STILL
OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones L and D. daphram plate c, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth Of the above may be ascertaned from
the records of the Patent Office to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G.PAGE.