Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-09
~ WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
TIE 1t known that L, the subscr

| Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distilaton 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 infrng-
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs TO 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 process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to be
paenable 10 the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclamcd, as APP
pears upon the public records of said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims. y, has
In the National Iateuigsncer 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 patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact OF my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
snch circumstances? Mr.. Porer's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was.
SO understood by the Patent Office, as it appears
from the records Of the Patent OfGce that bis
claim was at first refused interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, aud in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the 'sexclasve right 10 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 il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
IN the country @a
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Office will
show Tine true stale of the case: fsa
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
August 25, 1854. 4
SIR. In reply to your letter OF this date. asking
: hoo ha.an ,ts1dt w
dated 22d August, 1851, or al any other Time, or
10 any other person persons, securing to him
or them "dle earlasire right Of making gas from
tcoodh 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. Porters
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara-
tus and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore tor the ezclu-
sive right Of making gas from scoSd II would,
however, be unjusti6able 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. McCoNAELL- Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. z.
TIE United States Patent OGce-Io all persons TO
!, fchom these presents shall come, greftng:
This is to certify that the annexed is a 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 iiity-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. 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-nintb. q. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of W. ID. Porter ia his appfica.
lion for "an Improved still for making acood
gas" flea AngHS s, 1854. Letters patent issned
Angust22, 1854.
81 DO not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products OF destructive distiliauon
thereirom 10 high degree of heat, substantially
rs has been described aud for the purposes sci
forth in the specification Of w. p Mcconnell"
Tie United States Patent OGcc-To all persons 10
phons these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records Of this Office of extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day oil August, eighteen
hundred and 6fy-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
o. n the year OF our Lord one thousand
elght nunured ana nIty.lour, anu oi lhe
independence OF the United States the
seventy-ninth. y. MASON.
Eg,iaot from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
tcittch letters patent isSned august y, 1884.
CLAIM.-What | claim as 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 T. and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F,substaniially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth Of the above may be asceriained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. P. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G.. PAGE.