Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-18
WOOD GAs.-CAUTIoN.

h A. IL KNOWN tnAI 4, Tic suuoCTIbcT OD-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillaion OF
wood, and the king thereirom 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 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 to be
patentable 10 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
copy of his claims
In the National L,telligencer Of the 25th 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 intiniidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm and
so understood by the Patent Office. as II appears
from the records of the Pateui Otice that his
claim wa a, first refused interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. 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 10 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-kilu and charcoal man anuiactory
IN the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Othce will
show the true state OF the case
UMrEs STATES PATENT OFfIcE
dngaa IS, 1854.
Six In r,+nIy a your letter ot ihlS date. asking
9 if any patent has been granted 10 W y. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1851. or AT any other time, or
to any other person or persons. securing 10 him
them Ahe ercinsips right Of making gas from
1co0d 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 thai w. u. 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 Tor the eTcia-
sive right Of making gas from nosd il would,
however be unjustihabe TO expect 10 make
an extended investigation 10 answer your
quest
am, respectfully, your obedent servant
c. Mason. COMMISSIONS Of Patents
w. P McCoEAELL, Esq,
Care Of Prof. &. G. Page, Washington, ID. &.
The U,litsd States Patent Ofce-1o all persons TO
sytom these presents shall come. grating
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
rom tnt MES OF tnls once OI cNtFdci from
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
ID. Porter tor 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 6fiy-fonr.
In testimony whereof Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. s. this 18th day of August, in the year of our
Lord onesAhousaDd eight hundred and ffty-s
four, and of the Independence OF the United
States the seventy-nlnth. Z. Mason.
COPY Of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter IN his apphoa.
tion for "an improved still for making tcood
gas fled Ang1tst 5, 1854 Lsfters patent issnsd
August %. 1854.
. 1 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
sublecting the products OF destructive disullation
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"
The Unjted STAIRS Patent O6cc-To all persons 10
,ctom these presents shall come greeting:
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. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ffly-four.
In testimony whereof 1, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty.hfth day OF August,
= - n the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6fy-iour, and OF the
Independence Of the United States the
seventy-nnth G. Mason.
Ea4raot from Specification Of w ID. Porter on
tohieh Lttsrs patent tcere issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What | claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is
- The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic other cylinder b, the
cones r and ID, dinphram plate G, and exit pipe
s,,hssaptf-ltx, H.srrfhad in he foreOofnO
cfcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be asceHained from
the records Of The Patent Office, TO which oil have
access.
WM r. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS @. PAGE