Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-26
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
| DE II known that 1, the subscriber OBJ
| LID tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distllation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar 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 or any other person without nfring-
ing my said patent. And, further that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfuy belongs 10 me,
as l expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use of
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adl judged TO be
patenable 10 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 an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Inteligencer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 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,
1851, and how far the threat can ntimidate under
such circumstancesq Mr.. Por.er'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 al 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
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
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 Ofice
If such a claim right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-lsiin and charcoal manuiactory
in the country. .f
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 to your letter of this date, asking
:" if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them I" The ezclnsipe right Of making gas from
1cooa," 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. d. Porter's
claims believed 10 be Mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
paten, has been granted heretofore for the erctu-
size right of making gas from tco0d II would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect me 10 make
extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI. Esq,
Care OF Prof c. G. Page, Washington, ID. c.
The United States Patent OEce-To all persons TO
tchom these presents shall come, greting
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue 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 on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ifiy-four.
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunlo affixed
IT, 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-nintb 9. MASON.
Copy of disclaimer Of W. ID. Porter IA has applica.
tion for 'an improved aiH for making GOOD
gas,n fied August 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention aud discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjeciing the products Of destructive distla,ion
therefrom TO a high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell
Tas United States Patent O1fce-T To all persons 10
tchoni these presents shall como greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is n true copy
from the records ofthis Office of extract from
the specification OF w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fly-four.
In testimony whereof ], Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hcreunto
:, affixed this twenty fifth 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
seventy-ninth. G. MAsoN.
EJrraa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tckici letters patent issued august %, 1854
CLAiM.-Whst claim as my invention and de.
sire 10 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 ID, daphram plate G, and exit pipe
r, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be sscertained from
the records OF the Patent Office TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.