Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-24
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

t(A ~ AuoWu thdt i, tic euDSCTIDcr OD-
1J tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar pitch al
pleasure and gas and that in the Judgment OF
| competent persons the invention of an appar-
tns recently patented by w. D. Porter cannot be
ing my said patent. And, further, that what is
patented by said Porter rightfuy belongs to 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 adiudged 10 be
patentabe to 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 an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National I,,teLigencer 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 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 FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated daphragmis is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent OHce
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coa-kln 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 ease
UNrTEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augna 25, 1854.
SIR In renlv IN vour letter of thfs date askino
" ii any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854 any other time,
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them /" the ercf~sive right Of making gas from
1oood," 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. Porter's
claims are believed to be Mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the srclu-
sive right Of making gas from wosd II would,
however, be unjustifabIe 10 expect to make
extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL., Esq,
Care of Prof G. G. Page Washington, ID. G.
The Unaed States Patent OGee-To all persons 10
whom these presents shall come, greting:
This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy
from tue HltS Oh lnls ONCE Oh 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, |. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office to he hereunto affixed
IL. $. this 25th day of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hily-
four, and of the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nlntb G. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter in his appiiea.
tion for " an improved still for making Oood
gas filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent ISSUED
Amgnsf22 1854.
81 do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products of destructive distilaton
therefrom to high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The Unitea States Patent Oace-To all persons 10
rohom these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of W. ID. Pouer's patent, issued
in the twenty second 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 10 be hereunto
= affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
- n the year of our Lord thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MASON.
Enyoci from Specification ef w. ID. Porter on
to4ich letters patent acre issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM-Whst claim as my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs.n
The truth fthe sbeve may be ascertained from
the records OF the Patent Office to which all have
access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.