Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-11
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

he II known that L, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent IN December, 1881, for
apparatus for the destructive distillation 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 10y him or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent And further, that what IS
paieAted by said Porter rightfully belongs TO me,
as / expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the OF
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which | am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged 10 be
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof and " bch
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclamed, APP
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 H,telligsucer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
woodn and threatens prosecution TO 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
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim is 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 was at first refused interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
the "excusive right 10 making gas from wood"
The statement rafrivs abSurdiiy on It's front and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent Otice
If such claim or right had been granted il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manuiactory
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,
Aogast 25, 1854
SIR. In reply 10 your letter Of this date, asking
" if 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 g the e1rinsiue right Of making gas from
aoood, 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. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined to his appara
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the earcia
size right Of making gas from scosd. 1t would,
however, be unIustifable TO expect me TO 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, u. q.
TIE U,fted States Patent O6fcc--Io all persons 10
uAons these presents shall come grating:
This is TO 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 10 tho
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof, | Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
L. 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 seventy ninth. Q. MASON.
Com of disclaimer of W. d. Porter ia his appiica.
tioa for san Improved stiH for making toood
gas filed August 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Angnst22, 1854.
" | do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIZ:
subjecing the products of destructive distillaton
thererom to a high degree Of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
The U,aited States Patent Ofoe-To all persons 10
,clop hesepressnts shall rome creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the records OF this ofiice Of an extract rom
the specification of W. ID. Porters patent issued
in the twenty second day OF August eighteen
hundred and fffy-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty-hfth day OF August
= 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. q. MASON.
Eazract from Specification of W. d. Porter on
tohich letters patent fcere issued august p, 1854.
CiAIM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
.The construction Of gas apparatus or STILL
co insisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be asccraned from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.