Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-11
WOOD GAs.-CAUTTON.

- II III known tnat i, the suDsCfiDcI ou-
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1901, Tor
an apparatus for the destructive distiation OF
wood and the making therefrom of tar or pitch at
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 lnfring-
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
patenable to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclamed, as APP
pears upon the public records of said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims
In the National IateAigencer Of the 25th 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 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.. Porer's claim is 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 al first refused interfering with
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 statement carries absurdity on lts front, and
is libel on the good 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 frem the records OF the Patent Once VIII
show the true state of the ease:
UNlTEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
dngua 25, 1854
) SIR In reply 10 your letter of tins date, asking
" if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August 1851, or al any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them "Me e1clusive right Of making gas from
scoodn and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent We're issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed to be nfinedto his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eTcla-
size right Of making gas from 'coed II would,
however, be unjustfable TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully your obedient servant
G.. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington D. G.
The United States Patent OBfce-Io all persons 10
zchons these presents shall come, grating:
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 10 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August
eighteen hundred and 6fy-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
H. S.. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence ofthe United
States the seventy-ninth. G. Mason
Copy of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter m his apphca.
ton for an improped stfU for making ncood
gas filed Aagust s, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
q do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements. making gas from wood, VIZ:
subiecing the products of destructive dstiilation
thererom 10 a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The Unired States Patent O6fce-To all persoaS 10
tch0m these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office Of extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and 6fy-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:, :, affixed tins iwenty-6fih day OF August,
81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred anu hily-four, anu OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Eaagaet from Specification Of w. ID. Porer
,ohich letters yateat ,cere issued august % 1854.
CLAIM.--What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of gas apparatus or STILL
consisting ef metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones Z and d. daphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
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.
ssDoOR's RAILROAD MAP OF THE