Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-16
MiSrfIlaak0ns,
WOOD GAs.-CAuTIoN.
DEh Known that I, the subscriber OBJ


TIE It known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1891, for
an apparatus for the destructive dlstiiaton OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas and that in The Judgment oi
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
paies,ted by said Porter rghtfully belongs TO me,
as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and further, that the use Of
said Porier's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged 10 be
patentab!e to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. y. Porter has formally discaimed, 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. n . sa-ty y g gs5
In the National Iateligsneer Of the 25lh instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the aexclusive 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.. Porters 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 diaphragm is the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the exclusive right TO making gas from wood.
The statement carries absurdity on ITS 'front.' and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent ONCE:
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mahufactory
in 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.
S,p Tn ranl,, IN your letter Of this date, asking
"if any patent has been granted TO w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 MIN
or them the ercissive right Of making gas from
acood" 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. Porters
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 ercin-
sine right Of making gas from acosd. II would,
however, be unjustifabe 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
Tie United States Patent OGee-Io al persons TO
schom these presents shall come, grating:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
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. ID. 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 10 be hereunto affixed
II. ST. this 23th 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 seventy ninth. G. MASON
Copy ot-disclaim<r of W. d. Porter in his applica.
ton for "an improved still for making 'cood
gas nfl3d Augua5 S, 1854. Letters patent issued
Augua22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
sublectng the products of destructive dstillauon
TO 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 Ofce-To all persons 10
tchom these presents shall come greeting
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofthis Office of an extract from
the specification of w. d. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fifiy-four. >.
In testimony whereof, ], Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
!, affixed this twenty.f0h day of August,
"" 81 in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and y-four, and Of the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MASON.
Euydet from Specification of w d. Porter on
iohich Ltters patent issued August %, 1854.
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
co insisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, 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. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CIIAS. G. PAGE.