Washington sentinel., 1855-03-16
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.

~ IL known lnal i, the subscriber ODs
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive distiuation 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-
tus 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 IS
patented by said Porter rightfuly belongs TO me,
as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and further, that the use ct
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 10 the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. d. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
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 hateligencer Of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. ! ask how this statement
comports with the fact Of my patent of December,
1881, 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 il appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused 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 MIR. Porter calls securing
the "exclr,lve right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its 'front.' and
is libel on lhs good sense of the Patent Ofice
If such claim right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiin and charcoal mandatory
al the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OfFIcE,
august 25, 1854.
Sir. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
if any patent has been granted TO w. d. Ponsr,
ted nm shAr TINA
to any other person or persons, securing to him
or them "he erciusipe right Of making gas from
tcood," 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 encin-
srue right Of making gas from tcosd. IL would,
however be unjusti6able to expect me TO make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
W.P. McCoSAELr, Esq,
Care OF Prof. C. G. Page, Washington, D. C.
The United States Patent OGee-To all persons 10
,ohom these presents shall come, gretinE:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is frue 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, in aocordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w ID. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fifiy-four.
In testimony whereof l Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IT, s.. this 25th day Of August, in the year Of
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6fty-
four, and Of the independence OF the United
States the seventy-nintb. G. MASON.
Cory Of disclaimer Of W. d. Porter IN has appiica.
n
gas fked AngRst s, 1854. Letters patent tssned
AngHa22, 1854
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive distlation
therefrom 10 high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes SEE
forth in The specification OF w. P. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OEce-- To all ysrsonsto
rohom these presents shall come greeting:
This is TO 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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office to be hereunio
:, :, affixed this twen,y-ffth day OF August,
- in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and Ghy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy G. Mason.
Ezzraet fro1 Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
which letters patent mere issued august %, 1854
CIIIM.--What claim my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
tThe construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones L and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaiion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, to which all have
access.
VIM. r. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.
ssnOOR'S RAILROAD MAP OF THE
UNITED gTATES.v-This celehrat