Washington sentinel., 1855-02-24
WOOD GAS.-CAUTTON.
e Il known that i, the subscriber OBJ

I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making lherefrom 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. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrinR-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rghtfuly belongs TO me,
as expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and further, that the use of
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclamed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, oi
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy OF his claims.
In the National Inteiligsncer 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 a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
30 understood by the Patent Office, a. il appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with
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 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdy on its front, and
is libel on the good of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, IL would
forbid every cosl-kin and charcoal mandatory
IN the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Ofce will
show the true state Of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFrcR,
August Is, 1854.
Sin. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
" If any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them "htsrsla,irs right Of making gas from
tcood," 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. Portsr's
claims are believed 10 be c mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office 10 not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eTclu
,iv righ Of making gas from cosd. II would,
however, be unjusti6abe to expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-.
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w P. McCosarLL, Esq,
Care Of Prof. G. @. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent OHce--To all persons 10
scAon these presents shall come, HrefinE:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is arue copy
from the files Of this Office Of an extract from a
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 the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and 6fty-four.
In testimony whereof, ]. Charles Mason, Com.
| missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Once to be hereunto akxed
IT, 81 this 25th day Of August In the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6hy-
four, and ofthe independence ofihs United
States the seventy ninth. G. Mason.
COPY Of disclaimer of W. D. Porter in his ayplea.
fion for "an Improved sfiR for making GOOD
Ansna22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjectng the products Of destructive dstillation
therefrom TO q 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 O6ce--To all persons 10
,rhons 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 fny-four.
| In testimony whereof I, Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
| seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hercunto
:. affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August
/ !" 81 in the year OF our Lord one thousand
! eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
scventy-nnth. G. Mason
| Erfyoa from Specification of w. ID. Porter o,
tchich letters patent were issued August % 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 or other cylinder b, the
cones f and ID, daphram plate c, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth Of the above may be ascsrtained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access. -
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. q. PAGE.
MADEIRA NUTS, latest growth; 4 casl