Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-07
WOOD GAs.-CAUTTON.

ID Il 1t known that ], the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus Tor the destructive distllation 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.
tus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person without lntrlng-
ing my said patent. And, further that what IS
paie,ied by said Porter rghtfully belongs 10 me,
as / expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and further, that the OF
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been ad judged 10 be
patentable 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 annexed and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National hteliigencey 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
inf agiis mis- 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
so understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS OF Canada, for an
equivalent coutrivance. This claim given be-
low, aud 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 nbsnrfity on its front aud
is libel on the good sense OF The Patent Ohce
ff such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
IN the country. 8 f
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
A., Stp In IN laftar of his nj aski
if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing to him
or them the erclusiUe right Of making gas from
ncood" 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 c mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the erolat-
size right Of making gas from uosd 1t would,
however, be unjustifabIe to expect me 10 make
extended investigation To answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant
G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents
w. P. McCoNAELI., Esq,
Care OF Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. @.
Tie U,iued States Patent O&ee-To all persons 10
schoua these presents shall come, grazing
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the MES OF lnlS once OF an extract rom IL
paper filed in the matter of the application Of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof Charles Mason, Com !
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
l.. 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 seveniy-nntb. o. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter has applica.
ton for San improved still for making aooOd
gas fled AuguSt 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augnst22, 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 TO a high degree Of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w p. Mcconnell"
The Uaited Stafes Patent Office To al persons 10
,ch0Ua these presents shall come greeting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a 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 !, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:, affixed thus twenty-fnh day OF August,
N the year OF our bOrd one tnousahu
eight hundred and fiity-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Ea1ract from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
tchioh letters patena toere issued august p, 1854
CLMM.-What | claim my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
"The construction OF gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascerlained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.