Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-14
WOOD Gks.-CAUTION.

|
DE Ii known that i, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood and The making therefrom of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas aud that in the judgment OF
competent persons the nventon of appar-
tns recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person witnou, nfring-
Ing my said patent. And, further, that what as
patented by said Porter rightfuly 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 adiudged to be-
paentable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said office, OF
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims.
In the National I,atelhgsaosr 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 can intimidate under
such circumstances2 Mr.. Porter'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 Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
SaVluR Clause, Is WudI MT. IOTlcf cdlS stcuTIuS
the Exclusive right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdty on its front, and
is libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office
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.
august 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 M any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them the erclnstoe right Of making gas from
rpood," 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 eacfp-
stae right Of making gas from acoed. Ii would,
however be unjustiiable 10 expect me TO make
extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
/ am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. McCoNAELI. Esq,
Care Of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent Obfce-Io all persons 10
sohoDs these presents shall come, greting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office of an extract from
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 fhy-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO be hereunto affixed
IL. s. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
and pf the indenp ndenee of the United
States the seventy-nintb G. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer of w. d. Porter IN his applica.
tion for aan improved still for making acood
gas" filed August 5, 1854. Letters patent Issued
august %, 1854.
g do moi claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecting the products of destructive distlation
therefrom TO high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in The specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
TIE United States Patent O6fce-To all persons TO
iohom ubesepresents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner ofPatents have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
., anixed TINS twenty ynitn Day OF august,
q n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
Eaaract from Specification If w. ID. Porter on
roj.ich letters patent acre issued Augut %, 1854
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is
" The construction Of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones L and d. daphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation 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.