Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-13
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

II tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention of an appar-
ius 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 ~
patented by said Porter rightfuy belongs TO me,
as expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent O6Rce and, further, that the 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
patentable 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 an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Isteuigsmcsr 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 crcumstancesf Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
fromnthe records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, aud in which the perforated diaphragm il the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on The good sense of The Patent 0 ice
If such claim or right had been granted, itwonld
forbid every coa-kn and charcoal mandatory
an the country. t&sf 8g T5a
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Oace will
show the true state OF the case
UNIrEs STATES PATENT OFFIcE,
r'5t Augua 25, 1854
SIR. In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
g If any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
or them " the ecclmstue right Of MAKING gas from
,oood" 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 informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara-
tus; aud, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the sgclu-
size right Of making gas from s0Osd II would,
however, be unjusiifable TO expect me TO make
an extended Investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant
C. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent Ofce-Io all persons 10
aohoDp these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify thatthe 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 to the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four
In testimony whereof l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO he 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. 9. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer of W. d. Porter in has applica.
tion for IAN improved stia for making soood
gas," filed August S, 1854. Letters patent issued
AugSsf22, 1854.
q I do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIE:
subjecting the products of destructive distlation
therefrom to a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OEes-To all persons 10
scAom these presents shall come creating:
This is 10 certifythat the annexed is a true copy
from the records OF this Office Of an extract from
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof, i, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office to be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-6fth day OF August,
d n the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiy-four, and OF the
y independence of the United States the
.eventy-ninth. C. MASON
Eaaract. from Specification Of w. ID. Psrt~ on
sclieh lsfters patent ,cere issued Augua 22, 1854
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting Of a metallic other cylinder Is, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, t6whch all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.