Washington sentinel., 1855-03-31
WOOD GAs.-CAUTToN.

DE IL known that j, the subscriber OBJ
| ID tained letters patent in December, 1851, for
| an apparatus for the destructive dstillation 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 lnfring-
| ing my said patent. And, further that what is
patented by said Porter rghtfuy 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
patentabe TO the first Inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaiIned. ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, Of
which official copy is hereto annexed, and also
O copy Of his claims.
liz the National Infeligsncsr OF the 25lh instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the 'exclnsive right 10 mating 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 intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records Of The Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused as interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This clam 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, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manuiactory
an the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records Of the Patent Office viii
show the true state of tAe case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
A9gua IS, 1854.
SIR. In reply TO your letter of this 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 or persons, securing 10 him
or them /" tie ercltsipe right Of making gas from
rcood,p 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 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 for the ercin-
siye right of making gas from acosd 1t would,
however, be unjustifable 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
l am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason Commissioner OF Patents.
w. P. McCoNAELL, ESQ.,
Care of Prof G. g. Page, Washington, D. G.
The United States Patent OGce--To all persons 10
aci0m these presents shall come, grating:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
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 ffiy-four.
In testimony whereof, | Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL $. 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
b.,a ninth
Copy of disclaimer of w. d. Porter ia his app'iea.
lion for an improved aiH for making fcood
ga" filed August 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Angua22, 1854.
a do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecing the products Of destructive distllauon
thereirom 10 q high degree OF heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent Ofce-To all persons 10
tchom these presents shall coma 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. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day OF August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office to be hereunio
:, :, affixed this tweny.f day OF August,
l' N the year oil our LORD one tnousand
eight hundred and ffiy-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. Z. MASON
Ezzrao from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
tclieh letters patent issued Angua y, 1854
CIAIM.-What claim as my invention and de.
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth fthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office. 10 which all have
access.
VIM p. MCCONNELL.
By his attorney CHAS. O. PAGE.