Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-05
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

II Il IL known mat !, the suDscriDer OD-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distilaion OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch at
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 witnout inlrng-
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me,
/ expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Ofice and, further, that the use of
said Porters invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adJudged TO 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, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Iatelligencer 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 intimidate under
such circumstances! Mr.. Por.ers 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 at first refused interfering with a
prior patent TO Robert FOULS, OF Canada, for
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-s
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 absurdity on its 'front.' and
is libel on the good sense of the Pateat Office
fsuch claim or right had been granted, ii would
forbid every coal-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 ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
Augna 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter of tins date, asking
if any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or al any other time or
to any other person persons, securing to him
them g the srcl,tsive right Of making gas from
a0ood," 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 a
patent has been granted heretofore for the eacln-
size right Of making gas from acosd II would,
however, be unjusti6abe 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
c. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, ID. G.
TIE United States Patent O6fce-To all persons 10
achom these presents shall come, grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed Is a true copy
from the files Of this Office of 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 fifty-four.
In testimony Whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL. ST. this 25th day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
nd Of he MD de ri The limited
States the seventy-nlntb. Q. MASON
Copy of disclaimer Of W. ID. Porter in has appiica.
ton for "an Improved still for making GOOD
gas, FLED august s, 1854. Letters patent issued
August22, 1854
!" / do not claim as my invention and discovery
the Improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjectng the products of destructive distillation
theretrom 10 a high degree Of heat substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent OGce-TO all persons to
1cko1l these presents shall come greettng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. ID. Porters patent issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and hfy-four.
In testimony whereof, !, Charles Mason Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto-
r. affixed this twentyhfth day OF August,
= n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ifty-four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
scventy-ninth. 9. MASON.
Ea1rac from Specification Of w. ID. Porter
glticA letters patAu issued AHgnSt %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
co consistng OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records OF the Patent Office 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL