Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-20
WOOD GAs.-CAuTION.

-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851 for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation 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 infring-
ing my said patent. And, further that what rs
patented.by said Porter rghtfuly belongs to me,
as expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and further, that the use OF
said Porters invention Involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adudged TO be
patentabe TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said office OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy Of his claims.
In the National InteLigencsr of the 25lh instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive 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,
1881, and how far the threat can intinidate under
such circumstances? Mr. Porter's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
understood by the Patent Office, as ii appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrvance. 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 Otice
II such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-Siln and charcoal manuiactory
IN the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of1he Patent Office will
show the true state of the
UNITRs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Amgust 25, 1854.
SIR In reply to your letter OF this date, asking
: if any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1851, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing to him
them " Me erciasiUs right Of making gas from
rood" 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 to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the sxctm-
stpe right Of making gas from tcosd IL would,
however, be unjus,ifabe 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioned of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G.. g. Page, Washington, ID. G.
Ihe UIitsd States Patent Ofice--TO all persons 10
rchon these presents shall come grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files OF this office of 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 fifty-iour.
In testimony whereof Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
L. $. 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 seventy ninth. G. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer Of w. d. Porter his appiiea.
tion for san Improved still for making aoood
gas, filed august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
g do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products of destructive distilaton
thereirom 10 a high degree Of heat, substantially
a. has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of W. P. Mcconnell"
TIE United States Patsna OGce-To all persons TO
lcjtonl 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. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August eighteen
hundred and ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof |, Charles Mason Com
missioner of Patents, have caused The
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-fhh day OF August,
% n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffy -four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seyenty-nnth. g. MASON.
Ea1ract from Specification Of w d. Porter on
tchich ktters patent ioere issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.--Whal | claim 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 E and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
+, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth OF the 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.