Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-05

he IL known that I, the subscriber OBJ
Id tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distiiation OF
wood, and the making therefrom OF tar or pitch. nj
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment Of
competent persons the Invention Of an appaf-
stus recently patented by w. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person witaout infrlng-l
ing my said patent. And, further, that what ls
patented by said Porter rghtfully belongs 10 me,
as H. 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 adJudged 10 be
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof and Which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records OF said Office, Cot
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims ainH lG9hlifIR 9Na"gae4
o In the National Iatsligeosr of the 25ih Instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured BY
patent the tsexeiusive right TO making gus from
wood,p and threatens prosecution TO all parties
Infringing his paient.l l ask how thisi statement
comports withthe fact OF my patent OF Deccmber,
1851, and how far the threat can lntimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters 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
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, OF Canada, for an
equivalent contifvance- This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragmis the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the aexcusive right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on Its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Once
III such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-k kiln and charcoal manuiactory
IN the country. afl tau F; 9aesa53 sa
s The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease:
s s'@ UNITED STATES PATENT OrrIcE,
~, August 25, 1854
I..,,. tL,. lata atyi
if any patent has been granted 10 w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time, or
TO any other person persons securing TO him
or them e the ercipsive right Of making gas from
scood" 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 W4D. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ezclI-
however be unjuisti6abe 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest. g....,. 4, s.r t.,,.f
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
a c, Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
" Care Of Prof G. G. Pa Page, Washington, D. c.
The United States Patent O6fee--1o all persons to
whoDa these presents shall come, grating:
This is to 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.
D. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and fflyfour.
, In testimony whereof, / Charles Mason, Com.
missioner Of Patents have caused the seal
fA of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
fl. ST. this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
.9 Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffty-
four, and the Independence of the United
t States the seventy-nntb. " MASON
Conn of disclaimer of w. d. Porter in his appiica.
tion for aan improped stiH for making GOOD
gas FLED August S, 1854 Letters patent issued
Angnsf22, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subecting the products Of destructive distillation
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"
TN. Unired States Patent OGoe-To all persons TO
tchon these presents shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records ofthis Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
.,es missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August
= 81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6hy-four, and OF the
Independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. 9. MASON.
Eazraot from Specification of W. ID. Porter ON
schiet letters patent Were issued Angust %, 1854.
CLArm.-Whst 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 O., and exit pipe
F. substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings" ..,,.,.......s ..l.s...l \
The truth ofthe abevemay be ascerained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access. lar .t 800 ~ t-
~ WIN. p MCCONNELL I'll
BY his attorney CHAS. G.. PAGE. !