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

an apparatus for the destructive dislillaiion OF
wood, and the making therefrom oflar 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 as
patentsd by said Porter righifully belongs to me,
as | expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the of
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy Of his claims.
In the National Iitelligencey of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office as il appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim at first refused interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fouls, of Canada, for
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 absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Ohice
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 of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
An gust 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply your letter of this date, asking
!" if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
data An nr thar tIfnA nr
TO any other person persons, securing 10 him
or them the ezrkusiue right Of making gas from
ao0od" 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. ID. Porer'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 ezcin-
size right Of making gas from WoSd 1t would,
however be unjustifable 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, ID. G..
The United States Patent Otfcs--To all persons to
achoDa 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. d. Porter on the 22d 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 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. s. 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-nintb g. MASON
Irr n,
ti07 for an improved stiH for making aoood
gas" fled August 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz ::
subecting the products of destructive distillation
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
TIE United States Patent O6Fce-To all persons to
,chom 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. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof, l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August
d 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.
E1aract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter
tolict letters patent 1cere issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones Z and d. daphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially az described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth Of the above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office To which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.