Washington sentinel., 1855-01-05
M(isrfIlaMfgMs.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTIOk'
n n LnovVn that 4. the subsCri

DE II known that !, the suDscriDcT oD-
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1921, LOT
an apparatus for the destructive distlilation 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. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without lnirihg-
ing nv said patent. And, further, that what is
,ateatd by said Porter rghtfuly belongs 10 me,
as | expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the use Oh
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United states
Patent Office, aud which has been adJadsed 10 be
patentable to the first inventor thereof, and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclalmed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said oflice, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy Of his claims.
In the National Iuteligencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the ssexclusive right 10 making gas from
woodn and threatens prosecution TO all parties
infringing his patent. ask how tins statement
comports with the fact Of my patent OF December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimldaie unde,
such circumstances Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
SO understood by the Patent Office, as 1t appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, OF Canada, Tor an
equivalent conlrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the ttexclusvc right 10 making gas from wood.
The statement carries absnrdliy on us 'front.', ana
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent once.
IL such claim or right had been granted u wonid
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manulactory
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:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854.
S,y II, ranIy IN your Letter Of this datc, asking
If any patent has been granted to W. u. Porter,
dated 22d August 1854, or ut any other time, or
TO any olher person or persons, securing 10 MN
or them I" the eacinsiue right Of MAKING gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made py
W. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. ID. Porters
claims are believed to be mined 10 his appara-
tus and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore Tor the efcln-
sire right of making gas from acosd II would,
however, be unjusti6able to expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner OF Patents.
Care of Prot. c. G. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent O6fce-T0 alt persons 10
sctom these presents shall come grating
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files Of this Office of an extract from a
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 on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and illy-lour
In testimony whereof, L Charles Mason, Com
Of ihe h Patent S 0Iice i % nb be hereunlo affixed
II. ST. this 18th 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. Q. MASON.
Copy Of Disclaimer Of w. d. Porter in his appiica.
iion for san imyrored still for making acood
gas filed august 8, 1854. Letters Patem issued
Augnst22, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subiectins the products Of destructive distaiion
thereirom TO high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes SET
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
Tile United States Pa,ent OGce-To all persons TO
lcLom u1SepyeS shall come greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office Of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Poner's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-lour.
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
;, affixed this twenly-ffth day OF August,
L. S'I in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and Gfy-four, and of the
independence of the United States the
seycnty-ninth. Q. MASON
Eztyao from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
schich letters patent were issued August y, 1884.
CLATM-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of a gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF n metallic or other cylinder Il, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, 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, to which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.