Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-09
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

u@ WOOD GAS.-CAOTlON.
DE 1t known that L, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1891, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstlllation OF
wood and the making thereirom 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. u. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without nfring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
laie,.ted by said Porter rghtfully belongs 10 me,
as | expect TO prove 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
patentabe 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 official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National InteAigenoer of the 23th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "oaolusive right TO 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 circumstancesa Mr. Porters 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 was at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. 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" f"
The statement carries ahsurdity on its 'front.' and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent Office
If such a claim or right had been granted il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
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,
Angua %, 1854
SIR. In reply to your letter of tins date, asking
g if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, at any other time, or
TO any other person persons, securing TO him
or them /" the exclusive right Of making gas from
scoo2n 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 are believed to be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erci@
s1Ue right Of making gas from 0osd, IL would
however, be unjustifable TO expect me to 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. G.. Page, Washington, ID. G.
The United States Patent Ofce-To all persons to
aohon, these presents shall come, grettng
This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files Of this Office of extract from,
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO tho
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day OF August
eighteen hundred and filty-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 6fiy
four, and of the independenee Of the United
States the seventy-nlntb. u MASON
Com of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter an his applcd'
tion for an Improved still far making a0Ood
gas" filed AuguSt S, 1854. Letters patent issued
august %, 1854.
eI do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products of destructive dstillation
theretrom to a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
TIE United States Patent OHce-To all persons to
tcho1l these presents shall come greeting:
This is TO certify that The annexed is true copy
from the records ofthis ofire Of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-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,
: q n the year of our Lord thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth C.. MASON
Earraot from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
aclich letters patent were issued ARguSt % 1854.
CLAIM.-What | claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
.ingsn
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. G. PAGE.