Washington sentinel., 1855-10-27
WOOD CAs.-CAUTIoN.

II -
an apparatus for the destructive distillaion OF
wood, and the making therefrom 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 any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter righlfully belongs 10 me,
as | expect to prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office 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-
palentabe to the first inventor thereof, and which
said W. ID. Porter has formally dsclaimed, 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 I,,telligeneer of the 25h instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right TO making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 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 lntmidate under
such circumstspces? Mr.. Porter's claim is based
upon q movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, rs il appears
from the records OF the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent coniriyance. This claim, as 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 absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Ofhce Will
show the true state OF the ease:
UsrKs STATES PATENT OFFICE
august 25, 1854.
SIR In reply 10 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
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
them "Me erclusive right Of making gas from
,oo0d" 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. ID. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined TO his appara-
tus; and further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore Tor the eacln-
sipe right Of making gas from 10oSd II would,
however be unjustfable 10 expect me 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. MASON Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof G. G. Page, Washington, D. Z.
THE United States Patent OGee-To all persons TO
aohom these presents shall come, greting;
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this office of extract from
-
ID. Porter for letters patent, IN accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 tha
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and 6fty-four.
In testimony whereof, | Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
OF the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
IL. 81 this 25th day Of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and my
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. Z. Mason.
Com of disclaimer of w. d. Porter has applioa.
tion for an Improved stW for making tcood
gas" FLED August s, 1854. Letters patent issued
Angna22, 1854.
~ do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz !:
subecting the products of destructive distillaton
thereirom 10 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 10
1ohora these presents shaH conle greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records ofths Office of extract from
the specification OF w. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
. affixed this twenty-hflh day OF August,
= n the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and hiiyfour, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. z. MASON.
Epraa from Specification Of W. d. Psrfer on
,olieh letters patenf soere issued Angua %, 1854.
CLAIM-What | claim my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
The construction of a gas apparatus or stlll
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cihcation and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth ofthe above may be ascertancd from
the records of The Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
VIM p MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.