Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-22

DE II known tnat 4, the subscriber oD-
ID tanned letters patent in December 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood and the making therefrom of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas and that ia 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 rightfully belongs 70 me,
as | expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the use OF
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged TO be
patentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as an
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,steligencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his nafent. / ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intmidate 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 a
prior patent TO Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance This claim, given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving cause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdty on its 'front.' and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim right had been granted, il would
forbid every coakn 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:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augua IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your stter Of this date, asking
off 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 ercinsipe right Of MAKING gas from
1cood," 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 eTcin-
stpe right Of nlaking gas from 'co'd II would,
however, be unjus:ifable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoSAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. g. G. Page, Washington, d. O.
Tie United States Patent OGfce-To all persons TO
schom these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files OF this Office of an extract from
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 ftty-four.
In testimony whereof, l Charles Mason, Com.
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be- hereunto affixed
II. ST. this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffty-
four, and of the independence Of the United
States the seventy-nintb. q. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter in has applica.
tion for san improped still for making soood
gas p fLed august s, 1854. Lstters patent issued
Augnst22, 1854
" / do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
suhjectins the products of destructive distlaton
thereirom 10 a high degree of heat, substantially
az has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w P. Mcconnell"
1He United States Patent Office To all persons 10
tchom 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. Porters patent issued
in 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 to be hereunto
!, affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
. - n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MASON.
Eairact from Specification of w. ID. Porter on
tolielt letters patent issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.--What claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones Z and ID, diaphram plate c, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be asceriained from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.