Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-06
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
N Luax.tu that the suIhScril

II
II ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
an apparatus for the destructive distlllatlon OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pltch al
pleasure and gas aud that In the judgment Of
competent persous the invention OF an appar-
,us recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing nv said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 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 adjudged TO be
patentable to 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 Iatslligencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the "exclusive right to making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution to all parues
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 II 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 Mr.. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Oice
IL such claim or right had been granted, 1t would
forbid every coalkiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Omce VIII
show the true state OF the ease:
UMrEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
eli any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "Me exclusive right Of making gas from
,oood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application tor patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you informed that w. ID. Porters
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 erelu-
sue right of making gas from Tosd IL Wouid,
however, be unjustfable to expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am respectfully your obedient servant,
C. MASON Commissioner of Patents.
w. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent OGce-To all persons to
tohom these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of this Office OF an extract from a
paper filed in the matter of the application OF W
d. 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 ffy-fo
In testimony whereof, l Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto afhxed
IL. s.. this 25th day of August in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and hfiy.
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seventy iy-nIntb. o. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of W. d. Porter IN his Gppliea.
tion for "an improved sttH for making 'oood
gasn filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent tssuod
Augnst22, 1854.
&c / do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ
subiecting the products of destructive distlliaon
theretrom 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 United States Patent Ofce-To all persons 10
spllom these presents shall come greettmg;
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. Porters 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 TO be hereunto
:. affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
T. 81 n the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-nnth. u MASON.
Ea4raa from Specification Of W. ID. Perter on
scliea letters patent issued August y, 1894.
CIAIM-What claim my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of gas apparatus or STILL
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b. the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, 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 CHAS. @. PAGE.