Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-21
woOp GAs-CAUTION.

DE 1t known that l, the subscriber OBJ
Id Vained letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making thereirom ofta or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that IN the Judgment OF
competent persons ihe Invention of an appar-
Jus recently patented by w. ID. 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 10 me,
as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and which has been adj udged 10 be
pateniable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimcd, 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 I,,tekigenoer 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
infringing his patent. | ask how this statement
comports with the fact Of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat ntimidate under
such circumstances Mr.. Porter's claim rs based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim at first refused as 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 exclusive right to making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdy on It's front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent Oice
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kiln 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
AVga1 25, 1854.
Grp In l.,,t. of 1ata acLin
g if any patent has been granted TO W. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them TIE earitsirs right Of making gas from
1cood," 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 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 e1ctn-
size ri9M Of making gas from sco0d II would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect TO make
extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. 7. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prot. G. G. Page, Washington, ID. q.
The United States Patent OGce-Io all PERSONS 10
achom these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
rom Inc MES OF thlS once OF an extract from a
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 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 ha hereunto affixed
L. s. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6hy-
four, and OF the independence OF the United
States the seventy ninth. 9. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter in has appliea.
fion for San Improved StiW for making acood
gas, Pied AnguS 5, 1854. Letters pate'u issued
August %, 1854
/" / do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz
sublecting the products of destructive dlstilaton
TO high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w P. Mcconnell"
The Uait,d States Patent O6ce-To all persons to
1choau these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification Of w. d. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and hfly-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August,
= ~ the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and flty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. c. Mason.
Ea1raa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
rchich Ltters patent issued Augua %, 1854.
CLAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent Isl
THE construction OF gas apparatus or sill,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones L and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs."
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. G. PAGE.