Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-17
I WOOD ,f,As.--CAUTION.,

asa WOOD fGA6.--CAIJTION.
DE 1t known that i, the subscriber OBJ
Z I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstllaliOn OF
wood, and the making thercfrom Of tar or pitch NJ
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
pafsatsd by said Porter rightfuly belongs to me,
as expect 10 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 bc
patcntable 10 the 6rstlnventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records Of said office, OF
which an Official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of,his claims. s g i8
In the National Insslige,scsr of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right to making gas from
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can inlimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim il based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
90 understood by the Paten, Office as !. appears
claim was at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivancc. 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 absurdly on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Offce
If such claim or right had been granted, itwould
forbid every cosa-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country. 5s fs@
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true Sfate of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854. u
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 Ms ezclusivs right Of making gas from
aoood," 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. d. Porter's
claims believed to be mined TO his appara-
lus; and, further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclu-
siue-igM Of making gas from scosd II would,
however, be unjusiifiable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI. Esq,
Care of Prof. G.. G. Page, Washington, d. G..
The United States Patent O0fce-T To all persons to
scAon these presents shall come, greting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is 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. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifiy-four
In testimony Whereof l Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
,,fs pofa hs hare nj n aH ed
H. 81 this 25lh 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 G. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter in his opplica.
tion for "an improved stM for making acood
gas filed august 5, 1854 Lafers patent issued
August %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subectnE the products of destructive distillation
therefrom to a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
TAs United States Patent OGce---To all persons to
phom thesepresents shall come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification Of w. d. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony Whereof |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:. affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
l. 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy-four, and oil the
independence of the United States the
seventv-ninth. G.. MASON
EauYnc from Specification of w. ID. Porter
.cJticA lttsys patent scere issued August % 1854
CLAIM-What claim my Invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"Tbe construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic other cylinder B, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
T, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs."
The truth ofihe above may be ascertnined from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
VIM p MCCONNELL,
R,r liz aftnrnnu CHAS O. PAGE