Washington sentinel., 1855-11-15
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

VOOD GAS.-CAO1lONs
ID IL IL known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillaon OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar pitch at
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment OF
competent persons the invention of appar-
tus recently patented by W. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me-
as l expect to 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 TO be
pateniable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which official copy is hereto anne ed and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National IuteLigeacer 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. | 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 was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent TO Robert Fonlis, of Canada for an
equivalent conirivance. 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 ts front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Othce
If such claim right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mannfactory
in the country.
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case
UsITEs STATES PATENT OFFIcE,
Aaguss 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of tins date, asking
" il any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person persons, securing TO him
or them |" The srelusive rtght Of making gas from
1oood," 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. ID. 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 cTcln
sive right Of making gas from sOoed. 1t would
however, be unjustifabe 10 expect to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. T. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G.. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent O6cs-To all persons 10
sDhom these presents shall come grating:
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.
ID. Porter for letters patent, ip accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 tho
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffly-four.
In testimony whereof | Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
oil the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL 81 this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
nd n he nd nd al ed
States the seventy-nlntb. Q. MASON
Copy Of disclaimer of w d. Porter IN his aYpiica.
tion for San improved stH for making zoood
ga" filed august S, 1854 Letters patent issued
Angnst22, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood viz
subjeciing the products of destructive dstillation
therefrom TO high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
TIE Unmed States Patent OEce-T6 all persons 10
tehoni Aesspreseuts 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 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-ffh day OF August
o. n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fhy-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy ninth @. Mason.
EzIracf from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
toifch letters patent issued Awgust %, 1854.
CLAIa.--What claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
The construction of gas apparatus still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. 9. PAGE.