Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-20
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
nE It known that /. the suhsc riher

Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch a,
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 witnout infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 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 10 be
patentabe TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w d. Porter has formally disclaimed, 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 Inteliigeneer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right to making gas from
wood and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. l ask how this statement
COMFORTS with the fact Of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstancesa Mr.. Por,ers 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 al first refused as interfering with a
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 exclusive right TO making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
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
UNITKD STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August IS, 1854.
Sir. In reply to your letter OF this date, asking
:" if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "ths erciusips right Of making gas from
GOOD and whether any such claim was made by
w. D. Porter under his application for q patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
| above date, you are informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezein-
sue right of MAKING gas from tcoed Ii would,
however, be uniusti6able 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. MAsoS, Commissioner of Patents.
W. p. McCosAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, D. c.
The United States Patent O6eo--To all person, to
schom these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files Of this Office of extract from a
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. b. Porter on. the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, | 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 eigh, hundred and fifty
four, and Of the independence of the United
States the seventy ninth. G. Mason.
Copy Of disclaimer of W. ID. Porter has appiiea.
ton for ian improved riH for making tcood
gas, FLED dBguSt S, 1854. LISTERS pate,a issued
Angna22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
| the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjectng the products of destructive distlation
therefrom 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 United States Patent OFec--To all persons TO
tchom th<se presents shall come Creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
| from the records of this Office Of an extract from
| the specification Of w ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and fhy-four.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
| :, affixed this twcnty.hfth day OF August
| u y in the year Of our Lord one thousand
| eight hundred and ifty-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
| seventy-ninth. G. MAsoN.
Ez,rad from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
rchieh lensrs patent acre issued august %, 1854.
CIAIM.-What | claim as my invention and de
sire to secure by letters patent is:
The construction Of gas apparatus or still
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertaned from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
| acccss.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.