Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-25
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

WOOD GAS.-CAUIlON.
DE 1t known that +. the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
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. ID. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infrng-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me-
as | expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Offce 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 TO be
patentable TO 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 official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National htteliigencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 10 az parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent OF December,
1851 and how far the threat intmdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's 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 at first refused as interfering with a
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for
equivalent contriVance. This claim, given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the 'exclnsve right TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
Ii such claim or right had been granted, IL would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manuactory
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:
UMTEs STATES PATENT OFFICE,
AUgua IS, 1854.
SIR In reply to your letter of tins date, asking
"if anv patent has been granted 10 w ID. Porter,
dated 22d August 1851, or al any other time, or
TO any other person persons, securing 10 him
or them I" tie e1ciatsive right Of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent We're issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. ID. Porters
claims are believed to be mined TO his appara-
tus: and further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the ercfM-
sire right Of making gas from acosd IL would,
however be unlustifiable 10 expect 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCCONNELL Esq,
Care Of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, d. Q.
Tie United States Patent Ofce-To all persons 10
aoho1s these. presents shall come, grettng:
This is TO certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files Of this office of an extract from
paper fled in the matter of the application of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to tho
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day OF August,
eighteen hundred and hty-our.
In testimony whereof | Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office TO I've hereunto affixed
IL. 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. G. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer of w. d. Porter in has applica.
tion for an improved sttH for making tcood
gas, fled august $, 1854. Letters patent issued
august % 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subleclng the products of destructive dlstllauon
therefrom 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 Uyitea States Patent ORee-To all persons 10
tchom theseprescnts shall come creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office Of an extract from
the specification OF w. d. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and hfty-four.
In testimony whereof, ], Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty fifth day OF August,
= n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and iffy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. Z. Mason.
Er1rat from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
sohich letters patent issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM-What 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 and ID, diaphram plate 9, and exit pipe
f, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
nVs.n
The truth ofthe above may be asccrtained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
by his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.