Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-14
MisreIlama0us.
wooD CAs.-CAUTION.

w NAS.--SA0AHSN'
DE ID known that 4, the subscriber OBJ
II tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dist,llation of
wood and the making therefrom of tar or pitch AZ
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment o.
competent persons the invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by W. D. Porter cannon De
used by him or any other person without lniring'
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter righfully belongs 70 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 TO De
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and winch
said w. ID. Porter has formally discia,med, as ap.
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 Intelligencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "excusive right to making gas from
wood,n 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 lntimldate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as II 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, tor an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as gwen be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm Is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right 10 making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdity on us front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
IL such claim or right had been granted II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Ofce will
show the true state of the case
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE,
+ e..t AuO2ksf %, 1891. 4
SIR In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
I" if any patent has been granted TO w. u. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them "he e1rlasipe right Of making gas from
poodn 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. u. Porters
claims are believed to be c mined 10 his arpara-
tus; and, further this office IS not aware that q
stve right Of making gas from wosd. II would,
however, be unjus,ifabe 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant
c. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
w. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G, 6. Page, Washington, D. c,
The Unitsd State, Patsnt Ofre-To all ps,sons TO
ashons these presents shall come grettng
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 fliy-four.
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL s.. this 23th day of August, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fhy,
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy ninth. G. MASON
Copy of disclaimer of W. ID. Porter IN has appltcas
ron for "au improved sfiH for making tcood
gas,mfLd august 5, 1854. Letters patsm issWsd
Augusta, 1854.
II do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subJecting the products Of destructive distauon
therefrom TO a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. z. Mcconnell
The Un,ted States Pateut Office To all persons 10
tchom tjiase prsssnts shall come grseting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records this Office OF an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and fly-four.
In testimony whereof ], Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
:, affixed this twentyfah day OF August
u" 81 in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-lour, and of the
independence of the United States the
scventy-ninth. c. Mason.
Ea1ract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
aojtich tisrs pdtent tceye issued August %, 1854.
CLArM.--What claim as my Invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or stlb
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder p, the
cones aud ID, disphram plate c. and exit pipe
r, 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, 10 which all have
access.
" WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.
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