Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-03-25
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
DE it known that L. the subsc riber


| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making iherefrom 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. d. 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 rghtfuly 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 adiudged 10 be
patentabe TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally discaimed as ap-
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 Na,f0nai Intelligeneer OF the 25.u instant
Mr. Porter announces thai 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 jsrt of my patent OF December
1891, and how tar The threat intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porer's claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with q
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 "exclusiye right 10 making gas from wood"
The statemrni carries absurdity on its front. and
is libel on Ii, good sense Of the Patent Office
II such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coa-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 case:
UAIrEp STATES PATENT OFFICE
ADgna IS, 1854,
SIR. In reply 10 your letter of this date, asking
" If any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter.
dated 22d August, 1884 or at any other time or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them the eezciusipe risA Of MAKING "a, from
rood" and whether any such claim 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 10 be Mined 10 his appara-
tus; and further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eSeIss.
srre risA Of MAKING gas from tcoed Ii would,
however, be unjusti6able 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re.
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
@. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care Of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The Unned States Patent ONee--To all persons 10
schom these presents shall come, greting:
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.
which application letters patent were issued TO tho
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day OF August
eighteen hundred and f(iy,ioar.
In testimony Whereof Charles Mason, Com
MISSIONER Of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
H. $. this 25th day OF August in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and 6hy-
four, and Of the independence Of the Unned
States the seveniy-nintb. c. MAsos.
hmm nf A,srl1 vafW
t,on for "an i~proved stH for making GOOD
ga" Sled Angna 5, 1854. Letters patent issprd
Asgna22, 1854.
al do not claim ns my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecting the products Of des,ructive dstiIlstion
therefrom 10 high degree OF heat, substs ntislly
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in The specification OF w. p. Mcconnell
The Unttoa Steses PSse,s Orc To al p~rsons 20
whom fAsss presents siaH com, grsefinS:
This Is 10 certify that the annexed s a true copv
from the records OF this Office Of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Pouer's patent, issued
N the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents. have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunio
r, ., affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight bundled and fifty four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-nipih. G. Mason.
Ezraa fren SPECIFICATION Of w. ID. Porter ON
rhiA tstters paf>nt issred Apera %, 1854.
CLAM.-Whst claim as my Invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
The construction Of gas apparatus or sill,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones T. and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
K, substantially as described in The foregoing spe-
cihca,on, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertsned from
the records OF the Patent Office, 10 which ell have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL
BY his attorney CHAS G. PAGE
ssDOOR'S RAILROAD MAP OF THE
UNITED STATES."--Tkis celebrsi
ted Map, recently eulogixed by Lieutenant Maui